Fragments of a Square #3
Stephen Antonakos
Colored pencil on plastivellum
National Gallery of Art
This vibrant colored pencil drawing on plastivellum showcases Stephen Antonakos's signature exploration of incomplete geometric forms and spatial tension. The Greek-American artist, who immigrated to New York at age four and became a pioneer in neon art, created this work as part of his celebrated "Fragments" series in 1977—the same year he represented documenta 6 with a monumental neon installation. The piece exemplifies how Antonakos translated his luminous neon concepts onto paper, where geometric shapes engage in dynamic conversation with the surrounding negative space, making it a striking minimalist statement for any contemporary interior.