Ray Parker was born on August 22, 1922 in Beresford, South Dakota and died on April 14, 1990 in New York. The artist’s first solo exhibitions were his “stroke” paintings in the 1950s followed in the 1960s by Parker’s celebrated “simple” paintings and in the 1970s his “ribbon” paintings.

Briefly in 1964 and 1965 Parker created a short series of paintings called “The Nines.” Never shown together at the time, this is the first exhibition of the eleven “Nines” known today.

Parker painted with the brush, rags, or tubes of paint, but whatever shape they ultimately take, Parker’s absolute command of color unifies his entire body of work.