Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by James Riddle. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The paper is lined, and the writing is messy, covering dates, times, and instructions for an event.
This looks like a handwritten note with pencil scribbles. The paper is lined, and the writing is messy, covering dates, times, and instructions for an event. There’s a circle with "ESP" inside it, and some drawings of bars or waves. The text mentions "telepathic transmissions" and a time of midnight.
The artist made this in 1965, using pencil on old notebook paper. It’s not a clear message—more like a puzzle or a performance idea.
If you like this kind of weird, experimental art, check out James Riddle.
Overview
Created in 1965, this untitled drawing consists of four sheets of lined paper covered in graphite marks. The surface resembles a personal notebook, with a dense array of handwritten entries, dates, times, and brief instructions. Among the text are a circled abbreviation, ESP, and rudimentary line drawings that suggest bars or waveforms, giving the work an enigmatic, document-like quality.
Subject & Meaning
The composition functions as a cryptic record, blending mundane scheduling details with references to telepathic communication and a midnight timestamp. The juxtaposition of ordinary notations and speculative language invites viewers to consider the boundary between everyday documentation and experimental performance concepts, hinting at an imagined ritual or conceptual event.
Technique & Style
Executed with graphite pencil on standard lined notebook paper, the artist employs a loose, hurried hand that obscures legibility. The drawing lacks formal composition, instead embracing the accidental texture of erasures, overlapping lines, and the inherent grid of the ruled sheets, emphasizing the raw, process-oriented nature of the work.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced by James Riddle in the mid‑1960s and entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in documenting experimental and conceptual practices of that era.
Artist & collection
