Jack Whitten was a painter and sculptor known for his radical exploration of the process and materiality of artistic production. He developed a distinctive style that involved applying acrylic paint with various tools and techniques—including squeegees, rakes, and combs—often incorporating unconventional materials such as eggshells, copper, and Styrofoam into his compositions. Whitten created a unique tactility in his paintings by layering strips of acrylic ribbon in uneven fields of wet paint or adhering dried pieces of acrylic directly to his canvases. In his sculptural practice Whitten similarly engaged with experimentation. He combined carved wood with found objects sourced from his surrounding environment, including glass, wire, nails, fishing line, and discarded electronics. Across the many facets of his dynamic practice, Whitten’s work was deeply personal, addressing themes of place, memory, and the civil rights movement, often making works in homage to influential Black figures in art and politics.

–From the Glenstone Field Guide