Collection: James Whitney
California artist James Whitney (1921 - 1982) began his career as a painter,
studying in the US and England. His interest in the relationships between
music and abstract art grew over time, as did his fascination with themes of
spirituality, universality, and individual identity. His older brother,
John, was fascinated by new technologies and how these could be implemented
as part of the artistic process, particularly in film. James was more
focused on hand-generated art , but ultimately saw that some of the new
technologies his brother was working with might assist his own artistic
vision in terms of replicating serial imagery. By combining his
painstakingly hand-crafted work with the tools offered by technology, James
created art that embodies something of the fluidity and feel of music in its
visuals.