Shirley Jaffe was an abstract painter whose big paintings and strong colour put her in the top tier of post-war abstraction. Born in New Jersey and living in Paris for most of her life, Jaffe moved from gestural Abstract Expressionism to a precise, geometric style with flat, interlocking shapes and rhythmic colour. Her paintings, playful yet structured, show a deep understanding of balance and tension.

Throughout her long career Jaffe was independent – not part of any movement but in conversation with the great abstract innovators of her time. Her later paintings, often called “musical constructions”, translate urban life into pure form. By stripping away gesture and embracing clarity she created a language where intuition meets discipline, where colour and shape can express harmony, chaos and the beat of modern life.