Collection: Little Jewels

James Nowak’s Little Jewels Collection demonstrates a sophisticated engagement with geometric abstraction, employing intersecting forms and vibrant colors to generate visual compositions that oscillate between simplicity and complexity. The series, which includes works such as The Diamond and Zig Zag, positions geometric form as both building block and expressive device, transforming flat surfaces into shimmering, jewel-like constellations.

At the heart of the collection is a disciplined use of flat, primary colors alongside sharp geometric forms. Triangles, squares, and diagonals intersect and overlap, dividing the canvas into dynamic arrangements. Black is not treated as background void but rather as an active chromatic shape, functioning to heighten the brilliance of surrounding hues. This strategic interplay of color produces an optical vibrancy that recalls the faceting of gemstones, where sharp cuts refract light into new dimensions.

The compositions are structured yet playful. The square format of the works provides a stabilizing counterpoint to the visual tumult of interlocking shapes, anchoring the compositions while allowing movement to radiate outward. This negotiation between order and disruption creates a sense of rhythm and shimmer across the surface.

Simple geometric elements—triangles, lines, squares—serve as building blocks for increasingly complex arrangements. This modularity parallels the logic of both music and architecture, where basic units accumulate into structures of surprising richness.

The “jewel-like” quality of the works speaks to their dual nature: preciousness and play. On one hand, the sharpness of form and the luminosity of color evoke the cut and polish of gemstones, suggesting refinement and value. On the other, the improvisatory movement of shapes across the surface suggests a playful dance, resisting stasis and emphasizing process over perfection.

The affective power of the collection lies in its ability to be at once eye-popping and contemplative. The works shimmer with intensity, engaging the viewer’s perception at a visceral level. Yet, the repetition of forms and balance of composition invite sustained reflection, allowing the viewer to perceive not only immediate color contrasts but also deeper patterns of interaction and merger between shapes.

The Little Jewels Collection succeeds as a body of work that combines structural clarity with expressive brilliance. Its intersecting forms and jewel-toned colors create an optical and emotional resonance that is both immediate and enduring. By merging simplicity of form with complexity of composition, Nowak offers a reflection on how geometric abstraction can still surprise, dazzle, and move the contemporary viewer.