Alfred Jensen
Last weekend I loaded the family into my old car (actually a rental from Enterprise) and drove down to the High Museum to get a little rest and to take in some art inspiration. One that really made an impression on me was “Alfred Jensen”.
I knew nothing of him when looking at his exhibit in the High. I cannot even remember the name of it but it looked something like what is shown to the right. The bright colors and use of hard lines remind me of what I am working toward. I admire the use of numbers as well as circles and blocks almost resembling a calendar. His very loose nature applied to what seems very orderly from a distance. The continuing pattern of numbers and colors appear to be influenced by his childhood experiences according to Henry Luce III growing up in “Guatemala and had an Indian nurse in his childhood, for him to pick the Mayan as the first of the civilizations of antiquity which he would interpret.”
“ALFRED JENSEN thought about very big ideas, and he expressed them in very loud tones. He believed in a universal order in the affairs of man, and in an eternal order in the affairs of God. He believed that scientists, political philosophers and artists would interact to identify a unity of truth. Jensen was a worldly, and yet highly spiritual, artist of his time.” By Henry Luce III
There is no need to re-visit what is already written about him, but I am glad to find another artist who is not ashamed to be influenced by his belief in a higher power and yet still search to be relevant in this world. to find out more about him go to AlfredJensen.com
My Oneness, A Universe of Colours, 1957 oil on canvas, 26" x 22"
One of my favorite examples of Johnsons’ is the one shown below because I am sure that in some way I have been influenced by it due to my love of the continuing circle in my own art even though I was doing the continuing circle before viewing any of his art.
“I wish to see as much art as I can, because each style and each example leads me one step closer to that which will result in my own unique style.” Thomas Moffett
Enjoyed your post. I really enjoyed our trip and I am glad you got to see some great art and get inspired!