Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an acrylic drawing by Mike Kelley. It dates from 1986 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1986, this work by American artist Mike Kelley consists of two separate acrylic-on-paper panels affixed to a canvas. The piece is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and is classified as a drawing despite its mixed-media construction.
Subject & Meaning
The upper panel depicts a stylized streetlamp, rendered as a tall, block-like form with a rounded cap and a series of wavy, dripping lines. The lower panel presents a small window set within a building façade; the interior is dark, containing a vague facial outline surrounded by swirling shapes, suggesting an interior narrative or hidden presence.
Technique & Style
Kelley employed flat acrylic pigments applied to paper, then mounted the sheets onto canvas. The composition relies on crisp, graphic lines and uniform color fields, giving the work a sketch‑like quality. The only gestural element is the irregular, dripping strokes that animate the lamp motif.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the piece has remained within institutional holdings, entering the Museum of Modern Art’s collection where it is displayed among works that reflect Kelley’s broader practice of combining drawing, assemblage, and found-object strategies.
Artist & collection
Artist
Michael Kelley (October 27, 1954 – c. January 31, 2012) was an American artist whose work involved found objects, textile banners, drawings, assemblage, collage, performance, photography, sound and video. He also worked…
