Untitled 1971

This untitled painting was made by Ray Parker sometime in the 20th century using acrylic on canvas. At first glance, it might seem simple enough: colored shapes floating on a ground. But consider how those colors are produced. Pigments are synthesized in labs, mixed into a polymer medium, spread onto a primed canvas, itself a product of industrial manufacture. Parker embraces these qualities, creating a flat, almost graphic composition. Notice how the hard edges of the forms and even application of color emphasize the manufactured nature of the materials. Parker is not trying to trick you into seeing something illusionistic here. He's declaring the presence of paint on canvas, acknowledging the industrial context that made it all possible. This approach challenges the conventional hierarchy separating studio art from industrial production, celebrating the beauty inherent in modern materials and processes.