Going Up - Betty Parsons

A geometric abstract painting by Betty Parsons, featuring a stacked, tower-like structure composed of colourful bands and circular motifs against a blue field.

Betty Parsons is widely recognised for her role as a gallerist in mid-century New York, yet her own creative output remains a distinct component of her career. Her paintings often reflect a personal engagement with abstraction, prioritising colour relationships and geometric arrangements over representational accuracy. In this work, the composition features a central, tower-like structure set against a flat, blue field. The form is constructed from stacked, rectangular blocks, each decorated with horizontal bands and circular motifs. The palette is varied, incorporating shades of green, orange, brown, and pink, which contrast against the blue background. The application of paint is direct, with visible brushwork that suggests a spontaneous approach to the canvas. Parsons often utilised a simplified visual language, stripping away unnecessary detail to focus on the interaction of shapes. The vertical orientation of the central form, combined with its stepped structure, gives the piece a sense of upward movement, aligning with its title. Unlike the large-scale, gestural works of many of her contemporaries, Parsons maintained a smaller, more intimate scale in her paintings. Her work demonstrates an interest in the structural possibilities of paint, using colour to define space rather than traditional perspective. This piece captures her ability to balance order and playfulness within an abstract framework. The repetitive nature of the bands and the geometric repetition of the circles create a rhythmic quality, drawing the eye across the surface of the canvas. By focusing on the interplay between the central form and the surrounding space, Parsons creates a self-contained visual experience that invites quiet observation.