Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Conrad Marca-Relli. It dates from 1964 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1964, this work by Conrad Marca-Relli is a mixed-media drawing composed of cut fabric and wax applied to paper, then mounted on board.
Created around 1964, this work by Conrad Marca-Relli is a mixed-media drawing composed of cut fabric and wax applied to paper, then mounted on board. It belongs to a body of work from the mid-20th century that redefined drawing through material experimentation. Unlike traditional media, it relies on physical fragments—textile scraps and hardened wax—to construct form, aligning with the Abstract Expressionist interest in process and tactile presence.
Subject & Meaning
The piece resists figurative interpretation, instead presenting an arrangement of irregular shapes that suggest fragmentation and reconstruction. Its meaning emerges from the tension between order and chaos: jagged edges and layered textures imply both destruction and assembly. The absence of clear symbolism invites focus on materiality and gesture, reflecting the era’s broader move toward abstraction as a vehicle for emotional and physical expression.
Technique & Style
Marca-Relli assembled the composition by cutting and adhering fragments of fabric and wax onto paper, allowing raw edges and uneven surfaces to remain visible. The wax, applied in thin layers, hardens and binds the textiles, creating a composite surface that is neither painting nor sculpture. The result is a dense, tactile field where threadbare areas and translucent patches reveal the underlying structure, emphasizing the handmade and the accidental.
History & Provenance
This work originates from a period when Marca-Relli was deeply engaged with collage as a primary mode of expression, following his early association with the New York School. While specific ownership history is not documented here, it aligns with his broader practice of the 1950s and 1960s, during which he exhibited widely and gained recognition for his innovative use of non-traditional materials in abstract compositions.
Context
Emerging in the postwar American art scene, the work reflects a broader shift among Abstract Expressionists toward material experimentation. Artists like Marca-Relli moved beyond brushwork to incorporate found objects and industrial materials, responding to urban decay and the physicality of modern life. His use of fabric and wax situates him within a lineage that valued process over illusion, challenging conventional boundaries between drawing, collage, and assemblage.
Legacy
Marca-Relli’s approach influenced later generations of artists who explored texture, accumulation, and non-traditional media in abstract art. His integration of everyday materials into fine art contexts helped expand the definition of drawing beyond line and tone. This work stands as a quiet but persistent example of how material choice can carry conceptual weight, contributing to the evolution of postwar American art practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
Conrad Marca-Relli (born Corrado Marcarelli; June 5, 1913 – August 29, 2000) was an American artist who belonged to the early generation of New York School Abstract Expressionist artists whose artistic innovation by the…
