Working in Series

January 23, 2025


When you step into the world of an artist who works in series, it’s like stepping into an ongoing conversation—a dialogue that evolves, deepens, and refines itself over time. While many artists explore a variety of styles or subjects, the artist who commits to working in series offers a unique, unfolding narrative. This approach doesn’t just deepen their own practice; it also makes their work far more accessible and compelling for the audience.

Art of Focusing

At first glance, it might seem like variety is the spice of an artist’s creative life. And yes, experimentation can lead to fascinating breakthroughs. But artists who dive into a particular mode for an extended period—whether in a specific style, technique, or subject matter—are able to cultivate a kind of richness that can be difficult to achieve through a more scattershot approach.

Working in series allows artists to push deeper into their ideas. Instead of jumping from one project to another, the artist works through different aspects of a single concept or theme, uncovering new layers and meanings with each iteration. This focus gives the work a sense of cohesion, and often, a deeper resonance. The more you return to a theme or technique, the more the subtle nuances reveal themselves, creating a richer visual language and a more intimate connection between the artist and their material.

Power of Discovery

One of the key benefits of working in series is the space it provides for discovery. Think of it like reading a book in chapters, rather than just browsing a collection of short stories. With each piece in a series, the artist discovers something new about the idea they’re exploring. Perhaps it’s a new way of using color, or a new layer of meaning that emerges from their chosen subject matter. These discoveries are often cumulative—they build on one another and strengthen the overall concept.

For example, consider a painter who creates a series of works inspired by the changing light at different times of the day. The first few pieces may focus on the subtle gradations of light in the early morning. As the series progresses, the artist might explore how the light changes in the late afternoon or the way shadows lengthen as the day draws to a close. Each painting might differ in tone or palette, but the underlying theme remains the same—an exploration of light—and with each piece, the artist goes deeper into that exploration.

This kind of progression allows the artist to refine their voice and vision, all while giving the audience a chance to experience that evolution firsthand.

Clarity for the Audience

An artist who works in series often finds themselves much easier to understand from the perspective of the public. Why? Because the thematic or stylistic continuity gives people a thread to follow. Viewers can engage with an artist’s body of work in a more structured way, allowing them to better appreciate the nuances of the work and how it has developed over time.

When an artist is constantly shifting from one subject to another, from one technique to another, it can be difficult for the public to form a clear understanding of who the artist is or what they’re trying to say. But when an artist commits to a single body of work, the audience can see the evolution of that idea and understand where the artist is coming from.

For example, take the work of American artist Donald Judd. His minimalist works, characterized by their simple geometric forms, are more powerful and profound because they are consistently explored through the lens of his artistic philosophy. The more you see Judd’s work, the more you understand the intention behind each piece—the desire for order, simplicity, and clarity. Working in series allowed Judd to push his own ideas to their logical extremes, creating a deepening sense of understanding with every new piece.

Unpacking the Mystery

Ultimately, working in series allows both the artist and the audience to deepen the mystery of the work. Instead of the artist darting between ideas, only to leave them unfinished or underdeveloped, they return to the same idea again and again, continually unearthing new layers of meaning. And as these layers unfold, the mystery becomes richer, more complex, and more absorbing.

As the audience, we find ourselves drawn into the narrative of the artist’s exploration. The more we see, the more we understand—yet, there is always something left unsaid, something to contemplate, something to discover. It’s this balance between familiarity and intrigue that makes working in series so compelling. It gives us an entry point, while leaving us with room to wonder and wander.

Beauty of Depth

Next time you come across an artist working in a series, consider the depth they are cultivating. Their commitment to an idea, subject, or style might seem limiting at first, but it’s actually the opposite. By repeating and refining, they’re digging deeper into their artistic potential, finding new discoveries with each iteration, and inviting you to join them on that journey. The mystery is deepened, the work becomes clearer, and we, as the audience, are all the richer for it.

Working in series isn’t just about being consistent—it’s about creating a framework that allows the artist to evolve, and the viewer to follow along. It’s the difference between hearing a single note and experiencing an entire symphony. And in that depth, the real beauty lies.