Untitled #73 from the series Technological Reliquaries — Fine Art

A grid of small rectangles sits on a plain ground in Untitled #73 from the series Technological Reliquaries. The shapes are set in rows that look like a careful list or a diagram drawn to keep track of objects. Paul Thek made this kind of work by layering paint and drawing with a steady hand.

This fine art print is set in a frame with a back panel, so the sheet stays flat and the edges stay neat. The matte surface keeps the pale tones from shining under a lamp.

On a narrow hallway wall between a coat hook and a floor lamp, you see the repeating shapes first, then the small shifts in tone as you pass by. The grid holds its own quiet order.