Mel Bochner: Paintings

Often referencing humor and popular culture, Bochner’s paintings question the opaque meaning of language, transforming words into graphic arrangements and blurring the lines between looking and reading.

Purple panel with uppercase dripping red text reading OBSCENE and various synonyms

A multicolored painting of pastel-colored text on a beige background reading variations of the word "No"

Striped blue and gray panels with multicolored uppercase text along each stripe

An oil painting with thickly applied light blue paint forming a smudge, and the text "$#!+" in white.

Color image of grey toned painting with phrases in different colors

A painting of black text on a bright, multicolored background of many synonyms of the phrase "Get Lost!".

Mel Bochner: Paintings

Often referencing humor and popular culture, Bochner’s paintings question the opaque meaning of language, transforming words into graphic arrangements and blurring the lines between looking and reading.

Purple panel with uppercase dripping red text reading OBSCENE and various synonyms — Mel Bochner, Obscene, 2018

oil on velvet, 20 x 13-3/4 inches [50.8 x 34.9 cm]

A multicolored painting of pastel-colored text on a beige background reading variations of the word "No" — Mel Bochner, No, 2012

oil on velvet, 62-3/4 x 42-1/2 inches [159.4 x 108 cm]

Striped blue and gray panels with multicolored uppercase text along each stripe — Mel Bochner, Oh Well, 2018

oil on velvet, 41-3/4 x 30-3/4 inches [106 x 78.1cm]

An oil painting with thickly applied light blue paint forming a smudge, and the text "$#!+" in white. — Mel Bochner, $#!+, 2014

oil on velvet mounted on panel, 9 x 12 inches [22.9 x 30.5 cm]

Color image of grey toned painting with phrases in different colors — Mel Bochner, Amazing, 2021

oil on velvet, 63 x 38-3/4 inches (painting) [160 x 98.4 cm]

A painting of black text on a bright, multicolored background of many synonyms of the phrase "Get Lost!". — Mel Bochner, Get Lost, 2014

enamel and acrylic on canvas, 60 x 45 inches (canvas) [152 x 114 cm]

Purple panel with uppercase dripping red text reading OBSCENE and various synonyms

Mel BochnerObscene

2018

oil on velvet, 20 x 13-3/4 inches [50.8 x 34.9 cm]

A multicolored painting of pastel-colored text on a beige background reading variations of the word "No"

Mel BochnerNo

2012

oil on velvet, 62-3/4 x 42-1/2 inches [159.4 x 108 cm]

Striped blue and gray panels with multicolored uppercase text along each stripe

Mel BochnerOh Well

2018

oil on velvet, 41-3/4 x 30-3/4 inches [106 x 78.1cm]

An oil painting with thickly applied light blue paint forming a smudge, and the text "$#!+" in white.

Mel Bochner$#!+

2014

oil on velvet mounted on panel, 9 x 12 inches [22.9 x 30.5 cm]

Color image of grey toned painting with phrases in different colors

Mel BochnerAmazing

2021

oil on velvet, 63 x 38-3/4 inches (painting) [160 x 98.4 cm]

A painting of black text on a bright, multicolored background of many synonyms of the phrase "Get Lost!".

Mel BochnerGet Lost

2014

enamel and acrylic on canvas, 60 x 45 inches (canvas) [152 x 114 cm]