Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Brad Kayal. It dates from 2012 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a 2012 screenprint by Brad Kayal, belongs to a series of thirty‑one prints produced as a single portfolio. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed among other contemporary prints. The piece measures roughly standard print dimensions and is executed in a limited palette of black, white and muted reds, blues and whites.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a cartoon‑like figure dressed in a top hat and bow tie, mid‑leap over a ragged American flag. The character’s exaggerated arms, wide grin and cane suggest a whimsical, perhaps satirical tone, contrasting with the flag’s torn, dirty appearance. The juxtaposition invites reflection on national symbols and carefree individualism.
Technique & Style
Kayal employs screenprinting with bold, thick black outlines that define the figure and flag. Ink is applied in flat areas of color, while splattered marks add texture and a sense of spontaneity. The overall visual language is simple yet assertive, relying on graphic contrast and limited coloration to convey its narrative.
History & Provenance
Created in 2012, Untitled was issued as part of a limited portfolio of thirty‑one screenprints. The work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its production, becoming part of the institution’s holdings of early‑21st‑century American printmaking.
Context
The print emerges from a period when artists frequently used low‑tech graphic methods to comment on cultural and political themes. Kayal’s choice of a playful figure interacting with a distressed flag aligns with broader trends in contemporary art that blend humor, critique, and graphic design aesthetics.
Artist & collection
Artist
Brad Kayal’s prints look like they were made by a printer who moonlighted as a geometry teacher.
