Untitled (40" Cube Study)

Inspired by ancient Egyptian architecture and the work of East Coast artists such as Carl Andre, but also by Los Angeles's vibrant car culture, John McCracken arrived early in his career at the form that would become his signature: Elongated plywood planks coated in fiberglass and brilliantly colored polyester resin, polished to a high sheen, and leaned casually against the wall. McCracken sketched copiously, using pen, pencil, and colored markers to work through his ideas for sculptures. This drawing is one in a group of eight studies that provide a window into the artist's process as he developed plans for several wall pieces, a plank, and a cube.