Label TextWith lights and a painted disc, Irwin has created a puzzle of perception that intentionally blurs the line between illusion and reality. The shadows seem as tangible as the convex disk, which itself appears to dissolve into the wall. The line in the disc’s center looks transparent, but is actually painted in diminishing shades of gray that fade to clear at the edges. Irwin has made several similar works, using the series to explore issues of perception and to create work that does not begin or end with a physical edge. Untitled achieves this aim by merging disc, shadow, and wall, and removing the divide between the art work and its surroundings.
Exhibition History"Twenty-five Years of American Painting: 1948-1973," Des Moines Art Center, Mar. 6 - Apr. 22, 1973
Published ReferencesDES MOINES ART CENTER COLLECTS, Des Moines Art Center, 2013, ref. p.280, color ill. p.281
AN UNCOMMON VISION: THE DES MOINES ART CENTER, Des Moines Art Center, 1998, ref. p.145, color ill. pp.144 & 145
DES MOINES ART CENTER: SELECTED PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND WORKS ON PAPER, Des Moines Art Center, 1985, ref. p.86
The Nathan Emory Coffin Collection, a portfolio of fifty selections from the collection, published by the Des Moines Art center to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Nathan Emory Coffin, 1981
Exhibition History"Twenty-five Years of American Painting: 1948-1973," Des Moines Art Center, Mar. 6 - Apr. 22, 1973
Published ReferencesDES MOINES ART CENTER COLLECTS, Des Moines Art Center, 2013, ref. p.280, color ill. p.281
AN UNCOMMON VISION: THE DES MOINES ART CENTER, Des Moines Art Center, 1998, ref. p.145, color ill. pp.144 & 145
DES MOINES ART CENTER: SELECTED PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND WORKS ON PAPER, Des Moines Art Center, 1985, ref. p.86
The Nathan Emory Coffin Collection, a portfolio of fifty selections from the collection, published by the Des Moines Art center to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Nathan Emory Coffin, 1981
DimensionsOverall (diameter): 54 in. (137.2 cm)
Accession Number 1972.30.a-.c
Classificationspainting
CopyrightARS
ProvenanceArtist; Des Moines Art Center [purchased from previous, 1972]
Collections
