In the spirit of Halloween, here’s a spooky artwork in the Seattle City Light 1% for Art Portable Works Collection.

The acrylic-on-paper painting The Devil as a Joker (1982) by Ted Wiprud can hardly be labeled as minimal in approach or statement. The devil figure visually consumes the surface of the painting and figuratively consumes the air surrounding it. The painting currently hangs between the offices of our public art manager and communications manager. Bwahahahaha!

The city’s Portable Works Collection is a rotating collection of more than 2,800 artworks in all media, representing hundreds of artists collected by the city since 1973. The collection includes sculpture, painting, mixed media, prints, photography and textiles. The artworks are exhibited primarily in public areas of municipal buildings and include the work of emerging and established artists.

Image: Ted Wiprud, The Devil as a Joker, 1982, acrylic on paper.