Chili a la Mode is an R.C. Gorman artist placard tile featuring a seated woman alongside an abundant sweep of brilliantly colored chile peppers. Her softly outlined white garment creates a restrained backdrop for the composition’s dominant feature: a dramatic mass of red, orange, and green chiles flowing across the foreground and over the figure’s lap.
The contrast between Gorman’s calm, elegant figure and the energetic arrangement of peppers gives the artwork much of its visual character. Bright reds and greens stand out against the warm neutral background, while scattered individual chiles along the foreground extend the composition beyond the central arrangement. The woman’s upward-turned face and relaxed posture provide a quiet counterpoint to the vivid Southwestern color and movement.
As a decorative artist placard tile, Chili a la Mode brings together two recognizable elements of Southwestern visual culture: R.C. Gorman’s graceful figurative imagery and the vibrant colors of chile peppers. It makes an appealing addition to a kitchen, dining area, home, office, gallery wall, or Southwest-inspired collection, as well as a distinctive gift for admirers of Gorman artwork and Southwestern decor.
