Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Paul Feeley. It dates from 1964 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1964, this untitled work by Paul Feeley is an abstract composition executed in synthetic polymer paint on canvas. It belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The painting presents a flat, light‑toned field punctuated by a repetitive motif of orange and gray forms that suggest geometric snowflakes or stars.
Subject & Meaning
The arrangement consists of slender orange lines with rounded termini, interlocked with solid gray shapes that occupy the intervening spaces. The juxtaposition of the two hues creates a rhythmic, puzzle‑like pattern, inviting viewers to consider balance, repetition, and the visual tension between positive and negative space.
Technique & Style
Feeley employs uniform, unmodulated color fields and crisp, unshaded edges, emphasizing the purity of form. The synthetic polymer medium allows for flat, matte surfaces and sharp delineation of the geometric elements, reflecting the artist’s interest in hard‑edge abstraction and the reduction of painterly gesture.
History & Provenance
The canvas entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings after its acquisition in the mid‑1960s, shortly after its creation. Since then, it has been included in several exhibitions that explore mid‑century American abstraction and the development of non‑representational painting.
Context
Feeley’s work from this period aligns with a broader movement toward minimalism and hard‑edge painting in the United States. By focusing on simple, repeated motifs and a limited palette, the piece reflects contemporary concerns with formal clarity and the exploration of visual perception through abstraction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Feeley was an artist and director of the Art Department at Bennington College during the 1950s and early 1960s.
