Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Karin Sander. It dates from 1999 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1999, this untitled work by German artist Karin Sander consists of lint, dust and strands of hair adhered to pressure‑sensitive tape. The composition is presented as a drawing, though its surface is composed of actual debris rather than pigment, giving it a raw, unrefined appearance. The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Subject & Meaning
The work foregrounds everyday detritus—tiny particles of lint, specks of dirt and isolated hairs—transforming mundane waste into a visual field. By presenting these materials as a formal drawing, Sander invites contemplation of the boundary between art and the overlooked residues of daily life, questioning what qualifies as subject matter.
Technique & Style
Sander employs pressure‑sensitive tape as a substrate, pressing it onto a surface and then affixing the collected debris. The resulting texture is flat yet tactile, with muted tones of beige, gray and brown. The lack of any added pigment or finishing emphasizes the material's inherent qualities rather than a crafted illusion.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in 1999, the untitled piece has remained in the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, where it is displayed alongside other works that explore materiality and the limits of drawing. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in contemporary practices that interrogate the definition of artistic media.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karin Sander is a German conceptual artist. She lives and works in Berlin and Zurich. Karin Sander works across media, including sculpture, performance, photography, video, and architecture. At the core of her…
