Polly Apfelbaum has referred to her works of dyed velvet as ‘fallen paintings’ since they tend to grace floors instead of walls. Good and Plenty, a large rectangular piece that uses the colours of the original Good and Plenty Licorice Candy boxes, takes us in a nostalgic direction, while Apfelbaum’s Powerpuff series of circular pieces is a link to a more up-to-date pop culture. The pieces of synthetic velvet are dyed (Apfelbaum uses a squeeze bottle, then cuts out her shapes), with white edges, and then arranged almost petal-like, in concentric circles. The effect is of radiating, almost pulsating, hues which give off a powerful femininity.

Artist: Polly Apfelbaum
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Polly Apfelbaum is currently featured in The Shape of Colour: Excursions in Colour Field Art, 1950 - 2005 at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. June 1 – August 7.

Good and Plenty

Blossom

Bubbles

Buttercup