Exploring the infinite possibilities of color and its interplay within abstract painting, Whitney developed a distinctive style characterized by loosely structured, shifting grids composed of vibrantly hued and dynamically marked rectangles. His work embodies a singular fusion of carefully selected elements from Minimalism and Color Field painting, seamlessly interwoven with his personal artistic influences.

Inspired by the expressive power of Matisse, Cézanne, Rothko, Mondrian, and Morandi, Whitney synthesized these influences with a broad cultural spectrum, drawing from art history and diverse visual traditions—including Roman architecture, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and the intricate textiles of Gee’s Bend quilts.

"I want everything in the paintings—the complexity of the world. I am often reading while I am working on a body of work, so the titles are snippets from poetry, literature, and music." – Stanley Whitney