Untitled, 1999 emerges from a period of profound artistic transformation for Whitney. During the 1990s, while working in his studio in Rome, his compositions evolved from fluid, amorphous forms to the structured, stacked arrangements that now define his mature style. The art and architecture of Rome deeply influenced his understanding of the interplay between color and geometry.

The painting exemplifies Whitney’s renowned color grid series, where he explores the expressive potential of color. His structured grids evoke stability while remaining rhythmic, spontaneous, and unpredictable. Rather than imposing limitations, the grid serves as a dynamic framework, allowing for improvisation through color and texture.

“Color is my form, and I’m interested in how color moves and interacts.” – Stanley Whitney