Untitled [‘Lines and Spots’] 1979 [W/P]
Synthetic polymer paint, pencil and ink on paper, 59 x 81.5
signed and dated [l.r.: ‘Howard Arkley 79’]
Collection unknown (last auctioned May 2025)
This work, a fine example of Arkley’s patterned style between 1979 and 1981, is closely comparable with other works using similar sprayed dot-matrix patterning: see e.g. Print Out 1979 and Printout – Drawing for Decorated Tram 4 (1980) [W/P]. The ruled ink lines in these various examples introduce hints of a third dimension (compare also Isotype 1979). See also Tram no.384 1980 [3/M].
The present work was first listed for auction in 2001 (indicating that it was formerly in the artist’s collection), but did not sell. More recently, it has been identified as owned by Howard Arkley’s brother.
Provenance
- artist’s collection
- Collection of Robert Arkley (gift from the above)
- auctioned by Christie’s 3 April 2001, lot 111, as ‘Untitled [Lines and Spots]’: ill., dets. and provenance as above; est.$4-6,000; not sold
- auctioned by Deutscher and Hackett, Melb., 27 May 2025, lot 20: ill., details as shown here; est.$8-10K; sold for $28,000 + B/P = $34,364