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2010s
2010s

In the 2010s, Sean Scully's work continued to evolve, marking a period of significant exploration and recognition. His art from this decade is characterized by a blend of abstraction and emotional depth, as seen in his enduring interest in the interplay of color, form, and texture. During this period, Scully expanded his artistic practice beyond painting to include works on paper, sculpture, and photography. He remained deeply engaged with his signature elements—strips and blocks of color—while also experimenting with scale and composition. His art from the 2010s retains its emotional resonance, often drawing comparisons to the moodiness of Rothko's work​ (The Art Story)​. Scully's "Landline" series from this decade is particularly notable for its evocation of the sublime, a quality that overwhelms the viewer's ability to comprehend the work fully due to its intense aesthetic, moral, and spiritual depth. These works are marked by fluid lines and a sense of immense emotional experience, reflecting a period of personal physical suffering for the artist. This series showcases Scully's ability to communicate profound emotional states through abstract forms​ (The Art Story)​. Furthermore, Scully's work in the 2010s includes "floating paintings," which occupy a space between painting and sculpture. These works are characterized by hand-painted vertical stripes and are mounted on the gallery wall by one edge, creating a dynamic interaction with the surrounding space. These pieces underscore Scully's interest in architectural illusions and the emotional impact of abstract art​ (The Art Story)​. Scully's significant contributions to the art world in the 2010s were recognized through major exhibitions, including a comprehensive fifty-year retrospective at the Philadelphia Museum of Art titled "Sean Scully: The Shape of Ideas" in 2022. This exhibition highlighted his technical virtuosity and poetic sensibility, presenting a wide array of paintings and works on paper that underscored his bold experimentation with abstraction​ (Philadelphia Museum of Art)​. Throughout the decade, Scully's art maintained its focus on the expressive power of painting, exploring themes from the intimate to the monumental. His work continues to stir the spirit, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to the expressive possibilities of abstract art​ (Philadelphia Museum of Art)​.

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