Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Jutta Koether. It dates from 1990 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1990 by German artist Jutta Koether, this work consists of two adjoining oil‑on‑canvas panels. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and is classified within the contemporary abstract movement. The piece presents a vivid, gestural surface that engages the viewer through its bold coloration and layered application of paint.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes energetic brushstrokes in reds, oranges, and yellows with handwritten phrases such as “I love” and “I hate.” These textual elements, rendered in uneven lettering, intersect with swirling lines and a central orange disc edged by jagged strokes, suggesting a tension between affection and aversion that is left open to interpretation.
Technique & Style
Koether employs a thick impasto technique, building up paint to create a tactile, uneven surface. The brushwork appears spontaneous and messy, while the vivid palette and the inclusion of scribbled text align the work with the gestural abstraction prevalent in the late 20th century. The two‑panel format allows the visual rhythm to extend across a broader field.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the painting has remained within institutional holdings, entering the Museum of Modern Art’s collection where it is displayed as part of the museum’s contemporary art holdings. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s ongoing commitment to documenting the evolution of abstract painting in the post‑1980s era.
Context
Koether’s practice bridges visual art, music, and criticism, and she has been active in both New York and Berlin since the early 1990s. The work’s raw, expressive surface resonates with the broader discourse of that period, when artists explored the boundaries between painting, text, and performance, often questioning emotional binaries through abstract means.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jutta Koether (born 1958) is a German artist, musician and critic based in New York City and Berlin since the early 1990s.
