Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by James Kelly. It dates from 1963 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
A notable detail is the presence of a signature at the bottom right corner, which reads "James Kelly '63.
This image presents a lithograph titled "8 from 9: A suite of eight Lithographs by James Kelly." The title is prominently displayed in the center, with the numbers "8" and "9" standing out in yellow. The background of the lithograph is beige, featuring various abstract shapes in black and yellow.
A notable detail is the presence of a signature at the bottom right corner, which reads "James Kelly '63." This suggests that the artwork was created in 1963 by James Kelly.
To explore more works by this artist, you can look up James Kelly.
Overview
Created in 1963, this lithographic print is part of a series of eight works produced by James Kelly. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, where it is catalogued as an example of the artist’s printmaking practice during the early 1960s.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a central typographic element that reads “8 from 9,” rendered in bold yellow numerals against a muted beige field. Surrounding the text are abstract geometric forms in black and yellow, suggesting a dialogue between numeric signage and non‑representational shapes.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work employs the traditional stone‑or‑metal printing process, allowing for flat areas of color and crisp line work. Kelly’s use of limited palette, primarily beige, black, and yellow, highlights the graphic quality of the image while maintaining a subtle tonal balance.
History & Provenance
Signed by the artist in the lower right corner with the date ’63, the print entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings as part of its mid‑20th‑century print collection. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in documenting the development of American lithography during that period.
Context
The piece belongs to a suite of eight lithographs that explore the interplay of text and abstraction, a recurring concern in Kelly’s work of the early 1960s. The series aligns with broader trends in American art that incorporated typographic elements into non‑representational compositions.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Alphonsus Kelly was an American abstract expressionist artist whose career spanned nearly seven decades. Primarily a painter, Kelly also created graphic work especially during his early years in San Francisco from 1950 to 1953.
