Etel Adnan, Untitled, 2017. PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND GALERIE LELONG & CO.
Etel Adnan, originally from Beirut, relocated to California in the 1950s. Here, she developed a unique painting style influenced by her diverse cultural background and a deep spiritual connection with nature. Adnan's art, known for its intimate scale, is distinctively crafted using a palette knife instead of a traditional brush. This technique creates vivid, geometric color fields reminiscent of sunsets, valleys, and mountains, with Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California being a recurring theme. Prior to her art career, Adnan pursued philosophy studies at the Sorbonne in Paris and gained recognition as a poet, academic, and essayist. Her artistic career received a significant boost in 2012 with a showcase at Documenta 13. Adnan's works have been featured in numerous cities including Paris, London, New York, Zurich, Marrakesh, and Los Angeles. Her art is part of prestigious collections at the British Museum, M+, Centre Pompidou, Sharjah Art Museum, Tate, and Whitney Museum of American Art. Besides painting, Adnan has explored various mediums like drawing, tapestry, film, and ceramics.