Young at Art

Purvis Young's art is about the integration of line, form and color. In this work his subject is men and horses-the latter trained to serve the former. This layered plane of imagery reminds us of man's complex relationship with an animal that we appreciate wild in nature and have chosen to break and mold to our wishes. There is a natural rhythm in the curved shapes of the graceful torsos of both men and horses.

Young's sense of color is innate rather than informed as he pairs aqua and yellow and adds black lines and areas of white and darker blue.

Although some might call Young's work naïve, all would agree that he includes what is essential. He keeps our eye wandering and actively engaged with his surface. Young has little interest in depth or perspective, yet his surfaces force our eye to wrestle with a visual resolution of both these issues. In the sense that his work reminds us of cave drawings, it is more about subject matter than illusion. As a self-trained artist, Young has had to wrestle with the label of outsider. His work manifests a struggle and emancipation. For Young, perfection is neither a pursuit nor a product that interests him. His work is a manifestation of a drive and compulsion to create.

Young's works, on view at the von Liebig Art Center in Naples this month, are just some of many pieces recently donated to the center by the Rubell Family Collection in Miami.

-Mark Ormond

Mark Ormond is a Southwest Florida art historian and art consultant.