Sean Scully: Human - Hardcover

Sean Scully: Human - Abstract Art Monograph

A contemporary master abstractionist responds to a Venetian Renaissance masterpiece

This comprehensive volume documents recent works and previously unseen pieces by celebrated New York-based Irish abstract artist Sean Scully (born 1945). The collection showcases a series of new sculptures, paintings, drawings and watercolors directly inspired by the Venetian abbey of San Giorgio Maggiore, its vast illuminated manuscript collections and the 16th-century Benedictine church.

Signature Visual Vocabulary

The works featured in Human are instantly recognizable through Scully's distinctive visual vocabulary of horizontal and vertical stripes, reflecting fifty years of constant refinement and artistic evolution. This monograph represents a significant milestone in documenting the artist's mature practice.

The Madonna Series

A notable highlight includes paintings from Scully's Madonna series, marking the artist's return to figuration after having ceased figurative painting five decades ago. This departure from pure abstraction demonstrates the profound influence of the Venetian Renaissance setting on his contemporary practice.

Opulent Ascension: Site-Specific Sculpture

The centerpiece of this volume is the new and impressive Opulent Ascension, a site-specific sculpture that stands as Scully's tallest sculpture ever at 33 feet high. Constructed from stacked frames, each wrapped in rich and varying colors of felt, this monumental work represents a significant achievement in the artist's three-dimensional practice.

About the Artist

Sean Scully has established himself as one of the most important abstract artists working today. Based in New York, the Irish-born artist has spent five decades developing his signature approach to abstraction, characterized by bold geometric compositions and masterful use of color and texture.

This hardcover publication serves as an essential document of Scully's engagement with historical sacred architecture and its influence on contemporary abstract art, making it an important addition to any collection focused on contemporary painting, sculpture, or artist monographs.