Untitled (recto) 1983

Steve Keister made this 'Untitled' drawing with what looks like graphite and crayon on paper. I love the push and pull of the brown lines trying to make a shape, like a box, maybe even a room, and that confident swoosh of black cutting across, refusing to play along. You can see the hand of the artist in the smudges and the uneven pressure of the lines. I can imagine him, in his studio, wrestling with the tension between control and spontaneity. It feels like he's almost doodling, letting his mind wander as he explores different possibilities. Is he thinking about architecture? Geometry? Or is he just enjoying the pure act of mark-making? Painters are always looking at each other's work, borrowing ideas, and pushing back against conventions. I can see Keister in conversation with artists like Sol Lewitt, but also doing his own thing, making something that feels fresh and unexpected. To me, this drawing is like a little poem, full of feeling and intention.