Joel Shapiro American, 1942-2025

About the Work

Untitled (Purple) was created by Joel Shapiro in 1980 as one of three works, alongside versions in red and green. This print represents the artist's brief exploration of lithography, a technique that uses a rigid metal plate for production. Despite this method, the artwork exhibits a subtle fluidity, combining an impromptu-like sketch with the curvature of a colored motif. Its minimalism highlights Shapiro's lifelong interest in spatial relationships and his preference for utilizing a single, vibrant color. The work was printed on Arches Cover paper by Derrière l'Étoile Studios in New York and published by Brooke Alexander Editions.

This lithograph has undergone restorative treatment by an AIC specialist to regain the original brightness of the Arches paper. For more information, please contact the gallery.