This pastel, created on June 11, 1962 marks an important moment early in Lucas Samaras’s artistic journey, during a period when he  explores identity, transformation, and memory. In the composition, a young girl in a yellow bathing suit sits at the center, her glow contrasted against a turbulent, multicolored water in motion — symbolizing life, change, and emotional fluidity. Behind her, stark architecture—a dark, fortress-like wall with an open orange door—represents the unconscious, memories kept in the shadows. The architecture’s rigid, eerie presence contrasts with the lively waters below, hinting at a journey from darkness toward light. The girl, with her wide, curious eyes, embodies Samaras himself—vulnerable, questioning, and in the process of self-discovery.

This work demonstrates how Samaras used vivid color and abstracted gesture to express inner chaos and hope, serving as a visual metaphor for his ongoing process of transformation—an essential piece that reflects his movement from personal introspection to bold artistic exploration.

Lucas Samaras was a pioneering Greek-American artist rooted in the New York avant-garde scene, whose multi-media work challenged traditional notions of identity and art. His most influential years in the 1960s and 70s saw him explore self-portraiture and experimental techniques. His philosophy saw art as an ongoing act of transformation—using his own image as a vessel for psychological inquiry—and he distinguished himself from both abstract expressionism and pop art by emphasizing introspection, self-exploration, and technological experimentation.