In the 1960s, Joan Mitchell's art evolved significantly, marking a period of intense emotional expression and innovation. This decade was a transformative period in Mitchell's career, as she moved away from the all-over style and bright colors that characterized her earlier works. Instead, she began to experiment with somber hues and dense central masses of pigment, reflecting a deeper, more inchoate and primordial expression of emotion. This shift was in part influenced by personal challenges, including her mother's cancer diagnosis and the end of her tumultuous relationship with fellow artist Jean-Paul Riopelle. Despite the darkness that these events brought to her life, Mitchell's work from this period is noted for its extraordinary physicality, with paint being flung, squeezed, and smeared across the canvas in a way that created tempestuous, sculptural terrains (The Art Story). Mitchell's relationships and experiences during the 1960s deeply influenced her work. Her long and rich partnership with Riopelle was both a source of personal and creative stimulation. They shared a daily routine of dinner and drinks, maintaining a close, albeit complex, relationship that spanned over two decades. This period of her life was also marked by intellectual exchanges with figures like Samuel Beckett, with whom she shared mutual interests in artists like Paul Cézanne. Such interactions further enriched Mitchell's artistic language, contributing to the depth and complexity of her work during this time (Wikipedia). Throughout the 1960s, Mitchell's art was featured in numerous prestigious exhibitions around the world, including the Osaka exhibition International Art of a New Era: Informel and Gutai, the 29th Venice Biennale, and Documenta II in Kassel, among others. Her work was celebrated in both group and solo exhibitions, not just in New York but across Europe, showcasing her growing influence and prominence on the international art stage (Wikipedia). The evolution of Mitchell's work in the 1960s reflected broader shifts within the art world, as she and her fellow second-wave abstract painters began to gain recognition and challenge the commercial and critical landscape dominated by their male counterparts. This period saw Mitchell's work start to achieve the commercial success and critical acclaim that would solidify her legacy as a post-war icon. Notably, her market value began to rise significantly, a trend that continued into the new millennium, reflecting a wider reappraisal of women artists and their contributions to the abstract expressionist movement (Artsy). Mitchell's legacy from the 1960s and beyond is a testament to her indomitable spirit and unique artistic vision. Despite facing personal and professional challenges, she continued to create work that was intensely personal yet universally resonant, bridging the gap between abstract expressionism and the emotional landscapes that inspired her (Artsy) (Joan Mitchell Foundation).