Alchemy

Staff Pick | Monthly Muse October 2020

I became obsessed with Agnes Pelton’s Alchemy from the moment I saw it. The “star” that first caught my eye is absolutely brilliant, literally. My interest in mysticism and the occult—particularly their symbols—drew me to the tarot-card-like composition of the work. The deep, velvety darkness of the background contrasting with the luminosity of the figurative forms beckoned me closer. The more time I spend with the painting, the more I see and the deeper my appreciation grows. It is difficult to talk about Alchemy because it evades easy categorization. It is natural and supernatural, historical and timeless, and exists as if perpetually in the middle of a transmutation.

Sebastián Vizcaíno Cortés
Community Engagement Assistant, Langson IMCA