Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an acrylic painting by the Pop art artist Jim Nutt. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1967, this work combines acrylic paint applied directly to a plexiglass panel with a self‑painted frame that encircles the image.
About this work
Overview
The composition assembles a series of cartoon‑like vignettes, each populated by exaggerated figures, bold lettering, and stark color contrasts.
Created in 1967, this work combines acrylic paint applied directly to a plexiglass panel with a self‑painted frame that encircles the image. The composition assembles a series of cartoon‑like vignettes, each populated by exaggerated figures, bold lettering, and stark color contrasts. The overall effect is a fragmented, almost collage‑like scene that invites viewers to navigate its chaotic visual narrative.
Subject & Meaning
The piece juxtaposes a red banner bearing the phrase “Sid the Kid He Buys Me Saves Girl” with a sketch of a person in a dress, a blue‑faced businessman cradling a diminutive woman in yellow, and a pink‑skinned female figure beside a grid of blue squares marked by dripping red. The disjointed imagery and nonsensical text suggest a satirical commentary on consumer culture and identity, employing humor and absurdity to destabilize familiar visual tropes.
Technique & Style
Acrylic pigment is laid on a clear plexiglass surface, allowing the colors to appear luminous against the smooth substrate. The artist’s hand is evident in the uneven, rough line work and the vivid, flat color fields that recall commercial printing. The painted border, executed by the artist, reinforces the work’s graphic quality while framing the chaotic interior with a deliberate, handcrafted edge.
History & Provenance
The work was produced by Jim Nutt, a founding member of the Chicago Imagists—often referred to as the Hairy Who—who were active in the 1960s. It entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of post‑war American painting, reflecting the group’s engagement with Pop Art aesthetics and surrealist figuration.
Artist & collection
Artist
James T. Nutt (born November 28, 1938) is an American artist who was a founding member of the Chicago surrealist art movement known as the Chicago Imagists, or the Hairy Who. Though his work is inspired by the same pop…
