Artist Mel Kendrick Is Mining New Possibilities From Wood and Color

A hallmark of Kendrick’s practice is his singular economy of materials and techniques. Wood specifically holds a powerful place in his work. Despite its unforgiving nature, the artist does not plan the final piece before beginning, instead working in dialogue with the material itself; errors in cutting or carving are permanent and cannot be undone, making each piece in essence a document and record of his explorations and process.

Examples of these in the show include a series of intimately scaled pieces in Walnut Shelf (2026) or the monolithic Gemstone (2026) hint at the original, blank blocks they once were, underscoring each of the artist’s interventions.

In other, standalone sculptures and wall-mounted pieces, as in Yellow Drum (2025) or Withstand (2026), Kendrick’s unique chromatic vernacular is revealed. Rather than focus on hue as a sole or primary source of meaning, the colors he chooses complement the idiosyncratic shapes of his works. Inspired by stark contrasts of architecture like Gothic or medieval churches, they operate as forms of optical communication, one that is hierarchically even with the physical shape of the sculpture. While they can be read independently, together they create a complementary dialogue that invites viewers to consider the parts and the whole of the work simultaneously.

The sculptures on view are complemented by a series of cast paper works from the 2010s, which underscore his preoccupation with the visual qualities of color and form—color is treated as a material, much like wood or paper, with its own weight and significances.

As one of the preeminent American sculptors working today, “Tilt” offers a cogent exploration of Kendrick’s approach to the medium. While he maintains fidelity to a personal material and aesthetic foundation, within these parameters he continues to find new avenues of exploration, new lines of visual inquiry. Eschewing any form of representation, process becomes the subject itself—and a testament to his inexhaustible practice.

“Mel Kendrick: Tilt” is on view at David Nolan Gallery, New York, through June 6, 2026.