Local Color, July 26, 2012 - January 13, 2013, New Wing, Second Floor, Central Skylight and South Metro A Galleries, San José Museum of Art.

Juicy Paint, December 22, 2009 -May 30, 2010, New Wing, Second Floor, South Metro A Gallery, San José Museum of Art.

New Year, New Gifts, December 16, 2006 – May 20. 2007, New Wing, Second Floor, North and South Metro A Galleries, San José Museum of Art.

Local Color (2012-2013)

Initially influenced by ideas from Cubism and Surrealism, Lee Mullican became inspired by Native American art after encountering reproductions in several issues of the magazine DYN. The periodical was published by Wolfgang Paalen (1905 – 1959) out of Mexico City from 1942 to 1944. It was Gordon Onslow-Ford (1912 – 2003) who introduced Mullican to Paalen in San Francisco in 1947. Linked by ideas from Surrealism, Native American mythology, and Eastern philosophy, the three artists formed the Dynaton group. They strongly believed that through art one could have a transcendental and spiritual awakening.

Nightshade is made in Mullican’s signature style of fine, slightly three-dimensional, parallel marks of paint, but in a palette quieter than in some of his other works. Warm reds and oranges layered with a printers ink knife over a playful composition of organic shapes and other elements create a dreamlike quality. Mullican’s unusual technique makes the colors appear to dance across the surface of the canvas in a way similar to light reflecting off water.

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

• New Year, New Gifts San Jose Museum of Art , 12/16/2006 - 2/18/2000

• Image Dimensions: 40 x 50 in. (101.6 x 127 cm)

This object is a member of the following portfolios: