Untitled

The drawing centers on the word “STAR,” rendered in irregular, hand-drawn block letters. Surrounding it are schematic depictions of chairs, ladders, and tools—objects associated with construction or ascent. The juxtaposition suggests themes of aspiration, labor, or the intersection of textual and visual systems.

Chryssa employs a combination of controlled and spontaneous mark-making. Thick, uneven strokes define the central text, while lighter graphite lines outline the peripheral sketches. The layered application of gouache and polymer paint creates varying densities, lending the work a tactile, almost collage-like quality.

Created during Chryssa’s New York period, this work entered the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. The artist maintained studios in New York from the mid-1950s before relocating to Athens in 1992, where she continued her practice until her death in 2013.

The work emerges from Chryssa’s broader engagement with language, technology, and urban experience. Her earlier neon sculptures and later drawings share an interest in fragmentation and repetition, often referencing the visual culture of signage and media. This piece reflects that trajectory while emphasizing immediacy over precision.