Pierre Soulages continued to leave an indelible mark on the art world during the 1980s through his explorations of light, materiality, and, most notably, the color black. His innovative practice, known as Outrenoir (Beyond Black), distinguished him not only as an artist who painted with black but one who harnessed the color's depth and reflections to investigate light itself. This period of Soulages's career is marked by both continuity and innovation, showcasing his enduring fascination with black's material and symbolic qualities. During the 1980s, Soulages's work evolved in a manner that further nuanced his investigation into the texture, reflection, and interplay between light and dark. His paintings from this era, characterized by their richly textured surfaces, invite viewers into a meditative engagement with the materiality of paint and the dynamic effects of light. This was a continuation of his lifelong commitment to exploring the sensory and emotional possibilities of black, moving beyond its perception as merely a color to a symbol of depth and infinity. The decade was also significant for Soulages's contributions to the architectural and decorative arts, most notably his involvement in the design of the stained-glass windows for the Abbey of Sainte-Foy in Conques, France, from 1987 to 1994. This project underscored his interest in light's transformative potential, as he experimented with how light fragments and explodes through glass, creating a "harmonious explosion" within the space. This work paralleled his paintings in its focus on the interplay of light and shadow, embodying his philosophical engagement with the themes of fullness, emptiness, strength, and vulnerability​ (Wikipedia)​. The 1980s also saw Soulages's art receiving significant recognition and exhibition space in prestigious institutions worldwide. His first international exposure had come earlier, but by this time, he was a celebrated figure in the art world. The Louvre Museum's decision to hold a retrospective of his work in 2019, celebrating his 100th birthday, is a testament to his critical acclaim and the profound impact of his oeuvre. Furthermore, Soulages's work continued to resonate with audiences and collectors, as evidenced by the record-setting auction sale of one of his paintings in 2021 for $20.2M​ (Wikipedia)​. Soulages's exploration of black as a color that embodies both the absence and presence of light has made a significant impact on the discourse around non-representational art and the potential of color as a medium for emotional and intellectual expression. His philosophical and material investigations into black and light have not only marked him as a key figure in post-war abstraction but also continue to influence contemporary art and its dialogue with the past and future. Pierre Soulages's work during the 1980s and beyond represents a profound engagement with the possibilities of abstraction, the nuances of black as a color and concept, and the interplay between light, materiality, and perception. His legacy is that of an artist deeply committed to exploring the boundaries of visual experience and the emotional depth of color, particularly black, which he transformed from a simple hue into a vast exploratory space of artistic expression​ (Art in Context)​​ (Lévy Gorvy Dayan)​.