Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015) was an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker, born in Newburgh, New York. He studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, he used the G.I. Bill to study at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and later in Paris, where he was influenced by European modernists such as Henri Matisse, Jean Arp, and Piet Mondrian.

Kelly’s work is renowned for bold, simplified forms, vibrant color fields, and an acute focus on shape and spatial relationships. Drawing inspiration from nature, architecture, and everyday visual experiences, he abstracted these influences into pure, geometric compositions. Though often associated with Minimalism and Color Field painting, Kelly maintained an independent approach, prioritizing perception and visual presence over theory.

Over a career spanning more than six decades, Kelly exhibited internationally and earned widespread acclaim. His works are held in major collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Tate. Kelly continued to create art well into his 90s, leaving behind a profound legacy that reshaped the visual language of postwar American abstraction.