This untitled collage painting is an intricately textured Abstract Expressionist work. Even upon close examination of this piece's chunky surface, it is difficult to tell what is paint and what is torn paper, worked into and thickly layered on top of the paint. Mark utilized the physical, three-dimensional properties of crumpled tissue paper, imbedding it into the paint, to build up an intricate surface. This is unlike many other artists' collage methods that took advantage of paper's other potential visual qualities, such as the flat shape of a cut-out or the color of the paper itself.

Beyond demonstrating her incredible version of impasto, in this painting Mark also showed her talent and instinct for color combinations that achieved strong visual effects. Here, she played with pops of bright orange and contrasting calligraphic black brushstrokes, as well as the bold juxtaposition of bright turquoise against brown and pink. The vertical composition - most of Mark's paintings are verticals - creates movement and dynamism throughout. Multiple tiny splatters and dots create added texture beyond the collage elements.

Shown in Mark's first posthumous gallery exhibition, Libbie Mark: Collage Paintings (1950s–1960s), May 23–June 22, 2024 at Berry Campbell, New York, NY, this untitled collage painting was also featured in the exhibition catalogue, which contains 9 vivid full-color reproductions. The catalogue is available online, and at Berry Campbell, and at Berry Campbell.

Berry Campbell Inv. no. MARK-00029
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