Obsession can take many forms in artists’ lives, and for Anthony Miler, it has manifested as a steady, prolonged investigation into drawing that is more of a marathon than a sprint. Almost every day for the past 18 years, Miler created at least one letter-sized drawing on paper, if not more. The works are rendered in graphite, ink, and paint, and they bear clear signs of his life and activity, with shoe prints, smudges, and general wear and tear leaving their mark, inferring they were not made to be precious.

The habit of drawing daily evolved almost unconsciously and exists alongside a painting practice with more well-defined parameters and formal constraints. The drawings come to life on his studio floor, on his lap at home, and sometimes on the road when Miler is traveling. Each work serves as a private space for play, abstract thinking, and grappling with his numerous concerns for the world around him.

The drawings were all made privately, without the intention of being exhibited or seen by the public, but after almost two decades of accumulation, the gravity of this endeavor felt increasingly poignant and necessary to share. They range from sketches to riffs on motifs that are soon to come, and many, interestingly, become entire worlds unto themselves while also occasionally paying homage to artists he admires.

In many ways, these drawings are the most intimate part of Anthony Miler’s artistic practice, and for this presentation, more than 1,000 works have been installed together, forming a massive grid spanning nearly 100 feet across the gallery. Every piece remains completely unedited, and, as a group, the drawings function as a highly personal visual diary born without expectations of success or failure.