Book Launch at LongHouse Reserve Celebrates Legacy of Abstract Painter Tony Bechara

A book launch for “Annotations of Color Schemes” by the late abstract painter Tony Bechara will take place Sunday, August 31, at 3 p.m. at LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton.

Published by Lisson Gallery, “Annotations of Color Schemes” brings together Bechara’s notes and color formulas, offering insight into the intricate structure behind his signature grid-based works. The book includes more than 130 illustrations, foldouts and a glossary of key motifs that introduce the public to Bechara’s personal artistic language for the first time.

Estrellita Brodsky, founder of Another Space, and Phong Bui, publisher of The Brooklyn Rail, will speak about Bechara, his book and his legacy.

Born in Puerto Rico in 1942 and based in New York City, Bechara was known for his meticulous technique, dividing his canvases into hundreds of quarter-inch squares and filling each with complementary colors. His work reflects influences ranging from Seurat’s pointillism and hard-edge abstraction to traditional weaving and digital pixel art. In addition to his artistic practice, Bechara served as board president of El Museo del Barrio for 15 years and was a prominent advocate for Latin American artists.

He was honored at LongHouse Reserve’s Summer Benefit in 2024 and had planned to be present for the launch of his book before passing away earlier this year.

The event will take place at LongHouse Reserve, 133 Hands Creek Road, East Hampton. Tickets and additional information are available at longhouse.org.