Untitled (Toni Lane)

In "Untitled (Toni Lane)," a large-scale graphite drawing from 1978, a stark, almost confrontational portrait emerges from the off-white wove paper. The subject's gaze, direct and unblinking, draws you in, her features rendered with a raw intensity. This early work by Tony Oursler, created when he was around 21, predates the video installations and multimedia projects for which he would later become known, yet it hints at his enduring interest in the human face and its expressive power. The monumental scale of the drawing, nearly life-size, transforms what might have been a simple sketch into a powerful presence, inviting a prolonged engagement with the depicted individual. The simplicity of the medium, just graphite on paper, allows the texture and subtle variations of the lines to convey a striking sense of character and emotion.