Chuck Close

Lyle
1999

A stylized portrait of a man composed of colorful, abstract patterns that give a digital, pixelated effect. The image features prominent facial features such as eyes, nose, and mouth, with a play of light and shadow enhancing the three-dimensional appearance.

A stylized portrait of a man composed of colorful, abstract patterns that give a digital, pixelated effect. The image features prominent facial features such as eyes, nose, and mouth, with a play of light and shadow enhancing the three-dimensional appearance.

Not on view

Date
1999

Classification
Paintings

Medium
Oil on canvas

Dimensions
Overall: 102 1/16 × 84 1/8 × 3 1/16in. (259.2 × 213.7 × 7.8 cm)

Accession number
2002.220

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of The American Contemporary Art Foundation, Inc., Leonard A. Lauder, President

Rights and reproductions
© Chuck Close, courtesy Pace Gallery

API
artworks/17164

Audio

Chuck Close, Lyle, 1999

In Human Interest

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Chuck Close, Lyle, 1999

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Narrator: In this piece Chuck Close painted a portrait of the artist Lyle Ashton Harris. Look closely and examine the artist’s unusual technique. Close created a diagonal grid in which each diamond shape contains its own tiny, brushy painting. From close up the work seems abstract, as if the artist is concentrating on experiments with different colors and brushstrokes. But take a step back—just watch where you’re going as you do! From further away, all of those small individual abstract paintings join together to make a face.
The artist has purposefully chosen a technique that offers viewers two very different experiences. By giving us such a different view close up versus far away, maybe he is asking us to get to know his painting as well we would get to know a person.

Exhibitions

Chuck Close
43 works in the collection

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