Richard Stankiewicz - Study for Sculpture (Untitled), 1968

Richard Stankiewicz - Study for Sculpture (Untitled), 1968

Original graphite on paper drawing

This drawing is Study for Sculpture (Untitled), ca. 1968 by theAbstract Expressionist and assemblage and junk art pioneer Richard Stankiewicz
Signed in graphite on the front
Provenance: 
Collection of Barbara & Ernest Kafka
Swann Galleries, Inc.
Acquired from the above by the previous owner

Unique and impressive sculptural studies on graphite paper by Abstract Expressionist sculptor Richard Stankiewicz (1922-1983) who studied in New York with Hans Hofmann. From 1959 until the end of his career Stankiewicz he was represented by the Stable Gallery, New York. Stankiewicz drawings are rarely seen on the market. This is a real find for collectors of his work, and for collectors of original drawings by 20th century sculptors. 
Instead of showing three different finished pieces, this sheet depicts three different perspectives (or component arrangements) of a singular columnar tower concept that Stankiewicz was troubleshooting in his studio around 1968.

The Profile View (Left): This side-view outlines a very strict vertical axis, mapping out how far elements like pipes, joints, and handles protrude from the central spine.

The Frontal Views (Center & Right): These show a highly structured, vertical column composed of pre-fabricated, heavy industrial scrap. The center drawing emphasizes the heavy mechanical "joints" and boiler-like segments, while the right sketch translates these into a tapered cylinder terminating at a base ring. 

During the late 1960s, Stankiewicz’s style underwent a significant evolution. He moved away from the whimsical, insect-like, or explicitly biomorphic junk assemblages of the 1950s (such as Kabuki Dancer or City Bird). Instead, he began focusing heavily on formal abstraction, geometric weight, and architectural presence.

This work has been professionally re-framed in a museum quality handmade wood frame under UV plexiglass, bearing the original Kulicke fame label to preserve the provenance of the Barbara & Ernest Kafka.

Measurements:
Framed:
17 inches (vertical) by 20 inches (horizontal) by 2 inches
Artwork (visible):
9.75 inches (vertical)  by 12.75 inches (horizontal)