Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Terry Riley. It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1962, this untitled work by Terry Riley consists of a typed page of black ink on white paper. The piece is catalogued as a drawing and is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Its format resembles a handwritten instruction sheet, blurring the line between textual document and visual object.
Subject & Meaning
The typed text outlines a performance concept called “Ear Piece,” in which participants place everyday materials such as paper or plastic against their ears and generate sounds by rubbing or scratching. The language reads like a casual recipe, offering step‑by‑step guidance and even a cautionary note about potential ear damage, thereby foregrounding the relationship between ordinary objects and auditory experience.
Technique & Style
Riley employed a typewriter to produce uneven, hand‑set letters, giving the page a slightly irregular rhythm that echoes the improvisational nature of the suggested performance. The stark contrast of black ink on white paper emphasizes the instructional quality of the text while also presenting it as a visual composition in its own right.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the early 1960s, a period when Riley was exploring experimental music and interdisciplinary practices. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection sometime after its creation, where it remains accessible to the public as an example of the artist’s cross‑media investigations.
Context
Emerging amid the avant‑garde movements of the 1960s, the piece reflects a broader interest in dissolving boundaries between art forms, performance, and everyday life. By providing a do‑it‑yourself set of instructions, Riley invites viewers to become active participants, aligning the work with contemporary ideas about participatory art and sound experimentation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Terrence Mitchell Riley is an American composer and performing musician best known as a pioneer of the minimalist school of composition.
