This monograph explores the multifaceted artistic practice of Alan Shields (1944-2005). The publication, accompanying a 2016 exhibition at the Aspen Art Museum, offers a comprehensive survey of Shields' work across printmaking, painting, sculpture, and installation. It highlights his deep consideration of material and color, and his interest in creating objects experienced in relation to bodily movement. The book examines his layered pieces and reveals his belief in a direct connection between art and life.

This publication serves as a detailed survey of Alan Shields' career, as evidenced by its comprehensive scope and inclusion of essays and interviews. The content focuses on his unique approach to materials and his integration of art with life, suggesting a work intended for art historians, curators, and dedicated followers of Shields' oeuvre. The book's structure, built around a museum exhibition, points to its role as an authoritative document on the artist's significant contributions to contemporary art.