Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Frank Shepard Fairey. It dates from 2008 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2008, this screenprint by American artist Frank Shepard Fairey forms part of a mixed portfolio that includes lithographs, etchings, aquatints, and drypoints. The work presents a close‑up profile of a man in a dark suit with a white collar, his expression composed and solemn, while the word “HOPE” appears beneath in stark, block lettering. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image isolates a single male figure, rendered in profile, suggesting a focus on individual identity within a broader social context. The juxtaposition of the calm visage with the emphatic “HOPE” typifies Fairey’s practice of pairing graphic slogans with figurative elements, inviting viewers to consider optimism amid contemporary political and cultural discourse.
Technique & Style
Executed as a screenprint, the work employs a stencil‑like approach that yields clean, sharply defined edges and flat areas of color. This method aligns with Fairey’s graphic‑design background, emphasizing bold outlines and high contrast. The print’s visual economy—minimal shading, limited palette, and block lettering—reflects the artist’s street‑art aesthetic translated into a fine‑art medium.
History & Provenance
The screenprint was produced as one component of a six‑piece portfolio that also contains three lithographs, three etchings (including an aquatint), and two drypoints with chine collé. After its creation, the work entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view as an example of Fairey’s early printmaking practice following his emergence from the skate‑boarding and street‑art scenes of the 1990s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frank Shepard Fairey (born February 15, 1970) is an American contemporary artist, activist and founder of OBEY Clothing who emerged from the skateboarding scene.
