Double Physichromie @ University of Houston

Carlos Cruz-Diez got his start as a graphic designer and advertising man in his native Caracas. Early experiments with color sparked an interest in visual perception and led him to give up graphic design in order to pursue art on a full-time basis. Double Physichromie was Cruz-Diez’s first permanent public commissions in the United States and one of his largest artworks. In keeping with works from the Physichromie (or physical color) series, which began in 1959, the sculpture explores the artist’s concept of “additive color.” This color does not exist on the surface itself but is perceived by the eye as a result of the parallel lines of color that intersect on the plane. Double Physichromie shows Cruz-Diez’s intense interest in color and color theory. When standing still in front of it, the viewer can appreciate the complexity of the colors and color combinations used on more than 2000 of its aluminum pieces among many museums. Cruz-Diez’s work can be found at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Tate Gallery, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Creator: Carlos Cruz-Diez

Area: Houston / Third Ward-MacGregor