WattsOS
(
(Studio)
1957 · Soot and spit on found paper
Sheet: 4 1/4 × 5 1/4 in. (10.8 × 13.3 cm)
Image: 4 1/4 × 5 1/4 in. (10.8 × 13.3 cm)
Whitney Museum of American Art
WATTS INDEXThe canonical database of visual culture
James Castle
1899
Mixed Media
Representation
None documented
0
Institutional Exhibitions
42
Works in Collection
53
Assets Indexed
3
Authority-backed Facts
0
Publications Referenced
70%
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About
Why this artist matters now
James Castle was an American artist who worked primarily in graphite, ink, and found materials, creating intricate drawings and collages on discarded paper and cardboard. Born deaf, he developed a highly personal visual language characterized by densely layered mark-making and an inventive engagement with humble, salvaged substrates. Castle's prolific output, largely created in isolation in Nez Perce, Idaho, remained largely unknown to the broader art world during his lifetime. His work has since been recognized for its singular intensity and material innovation.
Source: Moma Bulk 2026 05 04 · Trust score: 92% · Updated 25d ago
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Medium
Mixed Media
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6 in graph
Institutional
Museum Collections
Canonical record
Artworks (42)
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Institutional
Representation & Collections
In collection
Museum of Modern Art
New York, US
In collection
Art Institute of Chicago
In collection
Whitney Museum of American Art
Record
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