Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Gary Hume. It dates from 2001 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2001, this charcoal drawing on canvas—simply titled Untitled—features a stark, monochrome composition of two floral forms rendered in black against an unadorned white surface. The work belongs to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, reflecting the artist’s ongoing engagement with minimalistic drawing practices.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a juxtaposition of an open flower with elongated, undulating petals and a tightly coiled bud, each anchored by slender, tangled stems and leaves. The contrast between the expansive blossom and the closed bud suggests a contemplation of growth, potential, and the fleeting nature of emergence within a reduced visual language.
Technique & Style
Executed solely with charcoal, the drawing relies on swift, gestural marks that give the impression of an immediate sketch. The medium’s matte black tone emphasizes the delicate line work, while the absence of shading or layering accentuates the raw, sketch‑like quality of the forms, allowing the viewer to focus on line and silhouette.
History & Provenance
British artist Gary Hume, a prominent figure among the Young British Artists of the early 1990s, produced the piece while maintaining studios in London and Accord, New York. After its creation, the work entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s representation of contemporary drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gary Stewart Hume (born 9 May 1962) is an English artist. Hume's work is strongly identified with the YBA who came to prominence in the early 1990s. Hume lives and works in London and Accord, New York.
