Shirley Jaffe

Shirley Jaffe, born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA, in 1923, left an indelible mark on the world of abstract art with her vibrant geometric abstractions. Until her passing in 2016 in Louveciennes, France, she continued to inspire audiences with her colorful compositions, which bore the unmistakable influence of her adopted hometown of Paris.

Shirley Jaffe's Art Style

Jaffe's artistic journey was a testament to her keen eye for composition and her ability to infuse her work with a sense of dynamism and energy. Inspired by the rich cultural tapestry of Paris, her paintings brimmed with associations, inviting viewers on a visual journey through space and color.

In her careful compositions, Jaffe explored the interplay between flat geometric forms and fluid figure-ground relationships, drawing comparisons to the works of renowned artists such as Henri Matisse, Fernand Léger, and Piet Mondrian. Like Matisse, she embraced the use of bold colors and simplified forms, creating compositions that exuded a sense of joyful exuberance.

Prior to the late 1960s, Jaffe's artistic style was characterized by a gestural approach, but she eventually abandoned this technique, fearing that she was compromising the purity of her work by overworking it. Instead, she embraced a more stripped-down aesthetic, focusing on the essential elements of form and color to create compositions that were at once dynamic and harmonious.