Details
Property from a Private New York Collector

RICHARD SERRA (B. 1939)
I-95
oilstick on paper
39½ x 59 in. (100.3 x 149.8 cm.)
Executed in 1994.

Provenance
Gagosian Gallery, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Exhibited
New York, Gagosian Gallery, Richard Serra: Nova Scotia Drawings, October-December 2004.
Brought to you by

Lot Essay

When Richard Serra was a young man, the artist worked in a steel mill before graduating from Yale; these experiences shaped his understanding of materiality and space. Since the 1960s, the artist has been widely recognized for his impressive steel sculptures; however, his drawings have not been the subject of attention until fairly recently. "I've been drawing all my life," Serra told Charlie Rose in 2011. "Drawing is another way of thinking." The artist employed oilstick on paper to create 1-95, an autonomous work of art named after the formidable East Coast highway spanning 15 states and measuring nearly 2,000 miles in length. Jagged charcoal lines curve around a white background in the piece, conjuring images of speed and controlled chaos, an imperfect circle of motion in a tightly bordered space. Compared to the smooth lines of works such as Torqued Ellipses, I-95 provides an extended view of the artist, one that allows us inside the contours of his mind, creating a map of rough lines on a delicate surface.

Related Articles

Sorry, we are unable to display this content. Please check your connection.

More from
Online: Post-War and Contemporary Art
Place your bid Condition report

A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

I confirm that I have read this Important Notice regarding Condition Reports and agree to its terms. View Condition Report