Steel Spatula c. 1940

This steel spatula, crafted by an anonymous maker, is a lesson in subtle mark making. Look at the way the artist coaxes texture from the steel. The piece isn't highly polished, the surface is rough and ready, and you get the feeling it was created for practical application. The spatula's form is so simple, but it has a kind of casual elegance, don't you think? Notice how the linear handle gives way to a more expansive rectangular end, and the star shape that is cut out from the centre. Imagine the artist carefully cutting around the edge of that star – it’s so precise! It has a kind of folk art, almost DIY quality to it, which makes me think of artists like Mike Kelley, who took everyday materials and elevated them to something more profound. It’s this tension between the mundane and the marvelous that gives art its enduring power.