Painting Without Paint: The Chemical Paintings of F.N. Souza is presented by RL Fine Arts in association with the Estate of F.N. Souza. The exhibition displays rare works from the artist’s estate and is the first of a series of exhibitions at RL Fine Arts that will highlight F.N. Souza’s work by genre and/or period.

Souza invented his chemical paintings during a period in his life when he was too poor to buy paints. But they were also created in response to the ready mades that were the basis of Pop Art in America. Once invented, the chemicals became a source of inspiration and experimentation for Souza that lasted throughout his life. Painting Without Paint displays a broad spectrum of Souza’s experiments with the chemicals over a period of 30 years. The exhibition includes the first chemical, made in 1969. The first show in North America devoted to Souza’s chemicals, Painting Without Paint is an important exhibition for collectors who want to expand their knowledge of this medium.

The full color catalogue that accompanies the exhibition features a series of essays written by Shelley Souza, the artist’s daughter. The essays contextualize the chemicals in the history of American art during the sixties, and highlight their importance in Souza’s wide-reaching experiments in paint and other media. The essays also include information about Souza’s early years in New York. The exhibition is curated by Shelley Souza and Brigita Krasauskaite, a young artist who has been working with the Souza estate for several years. They have chosen works by Souza that document the development of this complex and fascinating art form. One of the most original artists of the 20th century, F.N. Souza not only straddled many traditions while embracing none, as John Berger wrote; he embraced the cultures of several countries while remaining singularly Indian.