Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Chris Ofili. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1998, this work is a monochrome portrait rendered in watercolor and pencil on paper.
About this work
Overview
The figure is shown wearing a dark hat and a vivid, multi‑layered garment whose underlying hues of red, purple and blue emerge beneath crisp white outlines.
Created in 1998, this work is a monochrome portrait rendered in watercolor and pencil on paper. The figure is shown wearing a dark hat and a vivid, multi‑layered garment whose underlying hues of red, purple and blue emerge beneath crisp white outlines. The face is rendered in shadow, reduced to two small eyes and a triangular mark on the forehead, set against an unadorned background with faint swirling marks at its edges.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing presents an anonymous sitter, its minimal facial details suggesting a focus on attire and form rather than personal identity. The contrast between the dark hat and the bright, layered clothing may allude to themes of concealment versus revelation, while the stark white lines that define the garment’s edges emphasize structure within the fluid watercolor washes.
Technique & Style
Watercolor is applied in thin, translucent layers that bleed into one another, creating a soft, atmospheric depth. Pencil work supplies precise white outlines that sharpen the edges of the collar and chest, counterbalancing the fluid washes. The combination of wet pigment and dry line work yields a restrained yet dynamic visual tension, characteristic of Ofili’s experimental approach to drawing.
History & Provenance
The piece belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It was produced the same year Chris Ofili received the Turner Prize, a period when he was gaining recognition for incorporating unconventional materials into his practice. Ofili, originally based in London, has since relocated to Trinidad, where he continues his artistic career.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christopher Ofili (born 10 October 1968) is a British painter who won the Turner Prize in 1998.
