Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Paul Feeley. It dates from 1965 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1965, this watercolor and pencil drawing by Paul Feeley is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. It presents a restrained arrangement of abstract forms on an off-white ground, with faint grid lines suggesting a structured underpinning. The work’s modest scale and quiet palette reflect its function as a study, prioritizing formal exploration over finished presentation.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing contains no representational references; its forms are purely abstract. Two rows of elongated, spoon-like shapes—some outlined in gray, others framed or flanked by green areas—suggest rhythmic variation rather than narrative. The central circle enclosing one shape introduces a subtle focal point, but meaning remains open, rooted in visual balance rather than symbolic content.
Technique & Style
The gray outlines define form without heaviness, while the faint grid implies a methodical approach to composition.
Feeley employed watercolor for its translucency, layering pale yellows and muted greens over pencil underdrawings. The gray outlines define form without heaviness, while the faint grid implies a methodical approach to composition. The restrained use of color and deliberate spacing convey precision without rigidity, characteristic of Feeley’s interest in geometric order softened by hand-drawn imperfection.
History & Provenance
The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection following Feeley’s death in 1966. It was likely produced during a period when he was refining his abstract vocabulary, influenced by his teaching at Yale and engagement with Color Field painting. Its status as a study suggests it was not intended for public display but retained for its conceptual value.
Context
Created in the mid-1960s, this piece aligns with post-painterly abstraction and the broader shift toward minimalism. Feeley’s work, though less known than his contemporaries, contributed to a quieter strain of geometric art that emphasized subtlety over spectacle. His use of grid structures and limited palettes resonated with contemporaries like Ellsworth Kelly and Agnes Martin.
Legacy
Though not widely exhibited, this drawing exemplifies Feeley’s contribution to mid-century American abstraction. Its quiet discipline and attention to spatial relationships have influenced later artists interested in the interplay between structure and spontaneity. As a study, it preserves the process behind his more polished works, offering insight into his evolving formal language.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Feeley was an artist and director of the Art Department at Bennington College during the 1950s and early 1960s.
