About the work

This small drawing was done with tape on drafting film. All my original template drawings were done with this tape. I used the same tape (only wider) to do the large scale wall drawings, and still use it to establish the black lines in my paintings. Tape is the critical material in my work.

These days I rarely do drawings in tape on drafting film. I did this drawing especially for the Drawing Room Biennial, the only one on A4.

Date and country of birth

1941, IE

About the artist

Born 1941 Dublin, Michael Craig-Martin lives and works in London. Graduated from MFA Yale University School of Art and Architecture (1966).

Craig-Martin’s work has led him to explore the parameters of two-dimensional pictorial image making through drawings, paintings, sculpture, prints, and installations based primarily on intensely coloured images of ordinary, instantly recognizable, mass produced objects.

His works are held in public and private collections including Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Reina Sofia, Madrid; Arts Council of Great Britain, London; and Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Selected exhibitions include Sculpture, Gagosian Gallery, London (2019); Transience, Serpentine Gallery, London (2015-16); Michael Craig-Martin at Chatsworth, Chatsworth House, Bakewell (2014); Less is still more, Krefeld Museum, Haus Esters, Krefeld (2013); Signs of Life, Kunsthaus Bregenz (2006); Michael Craig-Martin: Works1964-2006, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin (2006); ModernStarts: Things, Museum of Modern Art, New York (1999-2000); and sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, Kunstverein Hannover (1999); Michael Craig-Martin, British Pavillion, 24th Sao Paulo Biennale (1998); Private space, public space, Centre Pompidou, Paris (1994); Michael Craig-Martin: A Retrospective 1968-1989, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London (1989); Michael Craig-Martin, Galeria Foksal, Warsaw (1979); Michael Craig-Martin:10 works, 1970-77, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane (1978); IX Biennale des Jeunes Artistes, Biennale de Paris (1975); and The New Art, Hayward Gallery, London (1972).