JOHNSON, Ray.

Arp Arty.

A signed drawing by Ray Johnson, framed (wooden frame: 284 x 263 mm.). Paper sheet with horizontal fold, signed & dated by the artist, mounted on Masonite. [New York]: “June 27th 1959”.

A signed Ray Johnson (1927-95) drawing from 1959, invoking Hans Arp (1886-1966) with Johnson’s characteristic wordplay. Johnson sent this work to artist Robert Buecker (1935-2024), an early member of the New York Correspondence School and frequent recipient of the artist’s inscrutable creations. Buecker also made harpsichords and in the 1970’s and 80’s ran a gallery-cum-harpsichord show room in SoHo called Buecker & Harpsichords. He included Johnson’s work in at least six group shows there.

Correspondence artist Edward M. Plunkett (1922-2011), who claims to have been the originator of the New York Correspondence School name, recalled in a 1977 feature: “Through Ray’s meeting I was to meet numerous artists and characters. I recall that Ad Reinhardt was at the early Nothing, as was Robert Buecker. A number of these people were as yet unappreciated underground movers of the avant-guard [sic.] of those days.”–”Send Letters, Postcards, Drawings, and Objects…”, Art Journal, XXXVI/3, p. 234.

On a folded sheet of Kromekote Litho, 55 lb. paper imitating bright pink paste paper, Johnson has written in bold letters: “Arp / Arty.” Emanating from the lower portions of all seven letters are streams of ink as if they are bleeding. In the bottom left of the sheet, he has recorded the date and his signature is in the lower right. We believe that Buecker framed the drawing himself soon after its receipt. The sticker label of Condon Riley gallery (24 East 67 Street) is affixed to the reverse: “Ray Johnson Ink DWG, / June 27, 1959 / Collection Rob’t Bücker.” Condon Riley was a short-lived gallery that showed Roy Lichtenstein, George Terasaki, and Robert Buecker, among others. It hosted Buecker’s solo debut which was January-February 1959, and merited a mention in Dore Ashton’s 27 January 1959 report on the New York art scene.

“(Prior to 1965, Johnson shunned gallery affiliation, concentrating on his New York Correspondence School, a worldwide postal ‘performance’ lasting many years, during which he sent mailed out many thousands of business-size envelopes filled with mini-collages, clippings, newsphotos, all cryptically or obviously related to the recipient…)”–David Bourdon, “Ray Johnson Collages: Valentines/Snakes/Movie Stars,” Works by Ray Johnson (1984), p. 11.

A nice early signed work by the artist. The slat frame is in very good condition, one of the joints is loose but sturdy.

|| Ray Johnson Estate website “Timeline” and “Exhibitions” pages (accessed September 2026).

Ellen Levy’s A Book About Ray (2024) provides essential background information on Johnson’s personal relationships and protean artistic practice.