About the artwork
A collection of anthropomorphic pencil-shaped figures populates this sheet of white sketchbook paper, rendered primarily in black marker with accents of color. Several pencil figures are depicted with faces, often featuring mustaches or ties, suggesting human characteristics. The composition includes several iterations of the “Pencil Head” motif, some appearing as complete figures, others as severed heads, and one dissolving into a blurred, expressive shape in the lower right corner. The artist’s handwriting, spelling out “PENCIL HAED” and “PENCIL HEAD,” appears several times on the page, indicating a conceptual exploration of the subject. Small splashes of blue, orange, and green paint are scattered across the paper, adding a spontaneous quality to the drawing. This work is identified as a sketch for an installation project involving pencil heads painted on ironing boards, the first of which was created in Hoorn, the Netherlands, in 1983, with the artist continuing to produce them into the 1990s.
Expert opinion
This work functions as a preparatory sketch, offering a glimpse into the conceptual development of one of Quik’s recurring motifs, the “Pencil Head.” Its connection to an actual installation project—specifically, the painted ironing boards—places it within the broader context of street art’s expansion into three-dimensional, site-specific works. As an early work from 1987, it predates the peak commercialization of street art but solidifies the artist’s engagement with gallery and installation contexts. The market for Quik’s work values pieces that directly reference his iconic imagery and demonstrate his artistic process, making this drawing a relevant example within his body of work.
About the artist
Lin Felton aka Quik was born in 1958 in Queens, New York. He began tagging on Queens walls at the age of 10. It wasn't long before he was covering the grayness of the city's trains with his name and recognizable graffiti. An active member of the RTW Crew, he has worked alongside the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Futura. After graduating from Parsons School of Design, Quik was spotted by Dutch art dealer Yaki Kornblit, who encouraged him to move to Europe, where he would become a recognized artist. His work has become a fixture on the international scene, and has been incorporated into prestigious collections. His work can be found in the collections of the Museum of the City of New York, the Studio Museum of Harlem in New York, the Becht Collection, the Martin Visser Collection and the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands.
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