Exploring the foundational importance of drawing to Christina Quarles’ painting practice, Far from Near focuses on works on paper in ink and acrylic that inform her distinctive approach to representing identity and the human body. Quarles’ early “100 Series” drawings marked a pivotal juncture in her career, helping to define her creative vision and voice as an artist. A formative body in their own right, these drawings and subsequent works on paper interrogate the formal elements of the body and the “illusory boundaries that demarcate the self,” while also incorporating text to reference evocative lyrics, phrases, and overheard conversations. Featuring expressive, almost effortless gestural lines, these rarely seen works showcase Quarles’ deft ability to manipulate figures and space, further solidifying her place as one of the most important artists of our time.