defeating it, in that moment, through paint.” This extraordinary statement expresses her belief in the power of paint and what a painting can communicate. Of all the artworks in my collection by various artists, a favorite is one of hers from this more austere era. It is a truly gorgeous painting of flowers, depicted largely in dark blue, a blue so dark you must light the painting to reveal the rich reds, golds, and greens present there. More changes followed and as the work evolved, I noticed an almost complete abandonment of her bravura brushwork—only to be replaced by smooth, sparing paint and delicate mark making. Haidee’s color palette also grew more luminous and somewhat otherworldly, all the while taking on a purplish-grey cast. I found myself having to adjust once again, mainly because I was expecting expressionistic form and Haidee was busy quieting down. Nonetheless, the soft, poetic intensity of the work made it clear that she was onto something good. About six or seven years ago, Haidee made yet another shift, and she added delightful touches of light yellow, green, blue, and orange to her palette. At this point, her color became so innately personal, there was nothing comparable to it. She had in fact become a poet with paint. This is what it is has been like to watch, follow, and collaborate with Haidee Becker, an artist whom I’ve been growing with for thirty-three years. As such, I’m more than ever
convinced that Haidee’s paintings will be collected well after my life is over, largely because she chose to stand outside fashion trends and chart her own course. But this has always been the case for artists who possess her kind of creative spirit, sensibility, refinement,
and world view. - Timothy Tew
*Portrait of Haidee Becker by Matthew Hollow
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