Edna Andrade, like many Op Artists of the 1970s, sought to remove herself from the artwork she created. It is difficult to find either brushstrokes or subject matter in her pieces; instead, she relies heavily on the repetition of lines, shapes, and colors to create a sensory hypnotic experience for the viewer. This is apparent in Julio’s Mesa as the viewer looks into the orange and blue swirls that dominate the center of the work. When speaking to her affinity for geometry and repetition, Andrade said, “I find myself in the ancient tradition of all those anonymous artisans who have painted pottery and tiles, laid mosaic pavings, woven baskets and carpets, embroidered vestments and sewn quilts." Andrade’s art connects with a long history of artists who remove themselves from their work in order to create something beautiful and enduring.
On January 25 we celebrate what would have been Andrade’s 106th birthday.