Untitled (PRO 75) - Allan D'Arcangelo

A striking screenprint by Allan D'Arcangelo, featuring the geometric iconography of road signage rendered in flat, bold colours.

Allan D'Arcangelo is recognised for his engagement with the visual language of the American highway. In this screenprint, he employs a minimalist approach to represent the iconography of road signage. The composition features a central vertical rectangle, bisected by diagonal stripes of yellow and red, framed by a stark black outline. This form is set against a flat, expansive blue background, which removes the object from any specific geographical context. Two black arrows dictate movement, one curving upwards in the upper left and a larger, more dominant arrow curving downwards on the right. These graphic elements function as symbols of direction and control, stripped of their utilitarian purpose and presented as pure form. The work reflects the artist's interest in the intersection of industrial design and fine art, a common theme within the Pop Art movement of the 1960s. D'Arcangelo often utilised the clean lines and flat colour fields associated with commercial printing techniques to create his images. By isolating these familiar shapes, the artist invites the viewer to consider the aesthetic qualities of everyday infrastructure. The lack of texture and the precision of the edges contribute to a sense of detachment, typical of the period's reaction against the emotional intensity of Abstract Expressionism. The work does not attempt to replicate a scene, but rather presents a series of signs that have been recontextualised as a graphic arrangement. This print captures the essence of D'Arcangelo's practice, where the mundane reality of the road is transformed into a series of geometric relationships. The balance between the bold, primary colours and the stark black lines creates a visual tension that is characteristic of his mid-career output.