Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1945, Sean Scully moved with his family to London at age four. By nine, he knew art was his calling, and by 15, he was working as a typesetter in a commercial printing shop. In the years that followed, Scully took night classes at the Croydon College of Art and then went to college at Newcastle University, where a production of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot was a touchstone experience. A fellowship allowed further studies at Harvard University. It was in the 1980s that Scully’s explorations as a painter, printmaker, and sculptor came together. Leaving minimalism behind while reaching for more abstract forms, his color-panel compositions brought him acclaim. New York’s Lisson Gallery is highlighting the early, experimental period in Scully’s career. —Jack Sullivan