Paul Thek’s early work, “Untitled (The Rhinemaidens / Wagner),” circa 1962. The painting show an affinity with the second-generation Abstract Expressionists. Credit… The Estate of Paul Thek, Pace Gallery and the Watermill Center; Photo by Josh White. [New York Times caption and illustration]
Although Thek possessed impressive skills as a draftsman and painter, he was an early practitioner of the crude figuration of “bad painting” (a term coined by Marcia Tucker, the founder of the New Museum).
Paul Thek, “Untitled (view of Zannone and Scoglio Grosso from Ponza),” 1969. Thek composed his pictures directly on a newsprint page, leaving part of the paper exposed so that it would yellow as it aged. Credit… Galerie Buchholz. [New York Times caption and illustration]
I don’t know how seriously to take Thek’s “view of Zannone” as picture making, but I’m glad it exists, and I revel in the impishness of his “untitled” titles.
It seems for me the quest to dare and paint “crudely” is of the essence, as it fights against the docile, groomed depiction towards which my complacent brain so strongly urges me. The ideal progression is: First look hard. Then see. Then raise hell on a surface. The mode of engagement is not chaotic; it’s reductive, maybe the fruit of considered impulse. It’s hard and hurts (mentally). May consist of doing the right amount of nothing with pencil or brush, letting pauses or vacancies speak. I rarely succeed in drawing or painting this way, but the craving to break the picture barrier is always on the drawing board.
Paul Thek mocked mortality in the last year of his life. Here, “Big Bang Painting,” circa 1988, on view at Pace Gallery. Credit… The Estate of Paul Thek, Pace Gallery and the Watermill Center. [New York Times caption and illustration]
(Arthur Lubow, “Paul Thek’s Art Legacy: A Shriek and a Giggle,” New York Times, 7-9-26)
(c) 2026 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved
EthicalDative 
Another very interesting artist! Thanks for your ever informative posts, Jim. (I do like the idea of using any old paper to paint on – it’s cheaper too!)
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Me too! 🙂
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