Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Favianna Rodriguez. It dates from 2012 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Its stark visual language and direct text reflect a tradition of activist poster-making, prioritizing clarity and emotional resonance over decorative detail.
This screenprint is one of thirty-one works in a 2012 portfolio by Favianna Rodriguez, an American artist known for integrating political messaging into graphic design. Created as part of a collective effort to amplify social justice themes, the piece belongs to The Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection. Its stark visual language and direct text reflect a tradition of activist poster-making, prioritizing clarity and emotional resonance over decorative detail.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is a woman standing firmly, gripping a banner that reads 'OCCUPY SISTERHOOD,' with a secondary message below: 'THE WAR ON WOMEN IS A WAR ON EVERYONE.' Her posture conveys resolve, while the absence of ornamentation focuses attention on the declaration. The imagery frames gender-based oppression as a collective struggle, linking women’s rights to broader societal justice. The work rejects passive representation, instead positioning the subject as an active agent of change.
Technique & Style
Executed in screenprint, the image uses flat, unmodulated colors—pink background, teal clothing, white text—with no gradients or shading. Lines are clean and minimal, reducing the figure to essential forms: strong limbs, direct gaze, simplified features. This graphic economy enhances legibility and urgency, aligning with the medium’s historical use in protest materials. The bold contrast and geometric simplicity ensure visibility at a distance, reinforcing its function as public communication.
History & Provenance
Produced in 2012 as part of a portfolio tied to the Occupy movement and migrant rights advocacy, the print emerged from Rodriguez’s work with CultureStrike, an arts organization she directed. The portfolio was distributed to mobilize public awareness and solidarity. Its acquisition by The Museum of Modern Art in the years following reflects institutional recognition of activist art as a legitimate cultural record, not merely ephemeral protest material.
Context
The print responds to rising political tensions around gender, immigration, and economic inequality in the early 2010s. It aligns with broader movements that connected feminist activism with labor and immigrant rights, particularly through artist collectives. Rodriguez’s work draws from Chicana visual traditions and grassroots poster culture, merging personal identity with collective struggle. The piece functions as both a call to action and a historical artifact of its moment.
Legacy
Rodriguez’s portfolio helped redefine the role of printmaking in contemporary activism, demonstrating how accessible techniques can sustain political discourse beyond street protests. The inclusion of this work in MoMA’s collection signals a shift in how museums engage with socially driven art. Subsequent artists have cited her approach as influential in blending identity, language, and visual clarity to challenge systemic power structures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Favianna Rodriguez (born September 26, 1978) is an American visual artist, and activist, known for her work in political posters, graphic arts, and public art.
