Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Jack Goldstein in 1981.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Neo Expressionism.

Artwork

Untitled

Jack Goldstein , 1981

Untitled is an acrylic painting by the Neo Expressionist artist Jack Goldstein. It dates from 1981 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1981, this large-scale acrylic on canvas presents an abstract composition of vivid colors and dynamic forms.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1981, this large-scale acrylic on canvas presents an abstract composition of vivid colors and dynamic forms. The painting’s energetic brushwork and layered surfaces generate a sense of movement, characteristic of the artist’s shift toward painterly expression during the early 1980s.

Subject & Meaning

The work does not depict recognizable objects; instead it explores the interaction of color, shape, and gesture. By emphasizing the materiality of paint and the immediacy of mark‑making, the piece invites viewers to consider the emotional resonance of abstraction rather than narrative content.

Technique & Style

Employing thick acrylic applications, the artist builds texture through successive layers, allowing underlying tones to emerge. The bold palette and gestural strokes align the painting with Neo‑Expressionist tendencies, where expressive intensity and a return to painterly spontaneity contrast with the conceptual practices of the preceding decade.

History & Provenance

The canvas entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art shortly after its creation, becoming part of the institution’s holdings of post‑1970 American painting. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in documenting the transition of artists from conceptual performance to large‑format abstraction in the early 1980s.

Context

During the early 1980s, many former conceptual artists began revisiting traditional media, contributing to a broader revival of expressive painting. This work exemplifies that shift, situating the artist within a generation that merged avant‑garde ideas with the visceral language of color and form.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jack Goldstein

Jack Goldstein (September 27, 1945 – March 14, 2003) was a Canadian born, California and New York-based performance and conceptual artist turned post-conceptual painter in the 1980s.