Russell T. Gordon(American, 1936-2013)
Tulip Table, 1973
Lithograph on Paper, ed.: II/XXV
19.125 x 24.4375 in (48.58 x 62.07 cm)
Gift of Lakeside Studio
This fall, I participated in Davidson College’s annual ArtMate program, which allows students to borrow artwork from the college’s permanent collection to display in their dorms or apartments. In the weeks leading up to the selection party, the Smith Gallery exhibited the available pieces, giving students the chance to explore the works and imagine how they might transform their spaces. Before the event, I made a list of about ten artworks that captured the colorful, joyful energy I wanted to bring into my room. When my turn came, I was thrilled to find that my top choice was still available: Tulip Table by Russell T. Gordon.
Russell T. Gordon (American, 1936–2013) was a painter, printmaker, and educator whose work explored themes of color, rhythm, and emotional expression. A graduate of Temple University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Gordon taught at Oberlin College for more than three decades. His art often combines bold colors, geometric forms, and symbolic imagery to evoke both playfulness and introspection. Tulip Table is a vivid example of his ability to blend abstraction and emotion, transforming simple motifs into compositions that feel deeply alive.
The lithograph features three vivid red tulips sprouting from the top of a bright white table, their petals open and full of life. Wisps of blue and white clouds drift across the background, giving the image a dreamy, almost surreal atmosphere. Lightly textured sky blue borders frame the scene like the edges of a viewfinder, containing the composition while also inviting the viewer to peer into Gordon’s world. What draws me most to the piece is its balance between simplicity and exuberance. The flat, comic-like red, green, blues, and whites interact with one another in a way that feels both graphic and meditative. In my room, Tulip Table brings a burst of optimism and color to the wall.
– Emma McDonnell ’27