Photos By Gail

I’m a longtime fan of Paul Thek, particularly his famous wax meat sculptures, which remain some of the most unsettling and fascinating artworks of the 1960s. While exploring his work recently, I was captivated by a very different piece: Untitled (Hand with Ring) (1967), a colorful sculpture of a human hand encased inside a clear Plexiglas vitrine.

The work is part of Thek’s renowned Technological Reliquaries series, a body of work that helped establish him as one of the most original artists of his generation. At first glance, the hand appears almost archaeological, as though it has been unearthed from another time. Its surface is covered in layers of pink, blue, green, yellow, and silver, creating the appearance of peeling paint, weathered skin, or a treasured object transformed by age. A simple green ring adorns one finger, adding an unexpected touch of personality and mystery.
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