Lilly Fenichel’s Arioso (1988) is an abstract composition in oil on wood, extending her exploration of colour, form and line into a more sculptural dimension. The irregular shape and shallow depth of the wooden support become integral to the work, moving beyond the traditional rectangular canvas and giving the composition a physical presence in space. The piece connects to Fenichel's long-standing friendship and dialogue with architects and sculptors such as Frank Gehry and Larry Bell, first formed in Los Angeles.

Following her move to New Mexico in the early 1980s, Fenichel began working with wood and exploring three-dimensional forms Her interest in the distinctive light and landscape of Taos also informed her approach to colour and abstraction. Arioso represents a natural progression of these experiments, bringing her abstract practice into a space between painting and sculpture.