Nancy Graves Foundation, Inc.
After a successful debut early in her career as a sculptor, Graves returned to the canvas in the 1970s, complementing her work with numerous pieces on paper. While minimal brushstrokes appear sparingly in her canvases from the mid-70s, her works on paper emerge as striking explorations of movement and light. Graves’s use of color and gestural immediacy defines her style, reflecting her ongoing and fundamental interest in form and motion. Each piece was completed in a single sitting, utilizing wet-on-wet watercolor techniques that resulted in vibrant, colorful compositions. Despite the dynamic nature of her process, Graves’ painterly strokes remain controlled and deliberate, with only a few serendipitous combinations arising from the medium’s natural properties. Her works on paper transcend their medium, often appearing more akin to paintings on canvas than traditional paper-based works.