Jasper Johns Gray James Rondeau, Douglas Druick, Mark Pascale, Richard Shiff, Kristin Lister, Kelly Keegan, Barbara Rose, Nan Rosenthal

Jasper Johns (b. 1930), one of today's most acclaimed and influential artists, is rarely considered in relation to monochromatic art. Yet single-colour experimentations have figured prominently in his productions since 1955, and within that significant subset of his work, the majority of monochromes are grey. In fact, every one of his iconic, serialized forms has been articulated in grey.

This elegant book, spanning Johns' full career, examines this singular preoccupation, presenting a revolutionary new understanding of and appreciation for the artist as an accomplished tonalist. Johns' greys traverse an infinitely expressive spectrum of differentiated hues and values evident in the new photography expressly commissioned for this catalogue.

The volume features paintings, sculptures, drawings, lithographs, silkscreens, etchings, and aquatints created in a wide array of grey media: oil and acrylic paint, encaustic, collage, Sculp-metal, aluminum, lead, silver, graphite, pastel, watercolour, and ink. This book also features recent works published here for the first time. Anchoring this essential publication are compelling essays that enrich our perspective on this prolific artist's entire oeuvre.

James Rondeau is Frances and Thomas Dittmer Chair, Department of Contemporary Art, The Art Institute of Chicago. Douglas Druick is Prince Trust Chair, Department of Prints and Drawings, and Searle Chair, Department of Medieval through Modern European Painting and Sculpture, The Art Institute of Chicago. Mark Pascale is associate curator of prints and drawings, The Art Institute of Chicago. Richard Shiff is professor in the Department of Art and Art History, The University of Texas at Austin. Kristin Lister is conservator of painting and Kelly Keegan is assistant conservator of paintings, both at the Art Institute of Chicago. Barbara Rose is an independent scholar and a well-known critic of post-war American art. Nan Rosenthal is senior consultant, Department of Nineteenth-Century, Modern, and Contemporary Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

'With learned essays and a lengthy interview with Johns himself, this wrist-bending book is almost as good as jetting off to see the show.' - Art World

'In footnote 22 of the essay fronting this fine and inspired series of enquiries into Jasper Johns's use of the colour grey, we learn that a man once drove the artist back to the airport after a short stay in California and, as you do, apologised for the cloudy skies. Not to worry, Japer said, 'grey is my favourite colour.' And with that, no doubt, lightening flashed, for Johns had pronounced.' Morgan Falconer, World of Interiors

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