Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Karl Haendel. It dates from 2002 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2002, this untitled drawing combines graphite with the artist’s own pubic hair on a sheet of paper. The work presents a stark, close‑up portrait of a male face rendered in black and white, marked by pronounced eyebrows, a moustache and cropped hair against an unadorned white background. It is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a simplified, almost schematic male visage, focusing on facial features rather than individual likeness. By employing bodily material alongside conventional drawing media, the piece invites consideration of the boundaries between the personal and the representational, suggesting a dialogue between the artist’s physical presence and the depicted subject.
Technique & Style
Graphite forms the primary line work, while strands of the artist’s pubic hair are integrated into the drawing, intermingling with the pencil strokes. The hair is applied directly onto the paper, creating texture that blurs the distinction between drawing and collage, and emphasizing the tactile quality of the medium.
History & Provenance
Karl Haendel, a New York‑born artist who has lived and worked in Los Angeles since the late 1990s, produced the work as part of his ongoing investigation of drawing as a central practice. The piece entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation and has been exhibited in venues associated with Haendel, including Vielmetter Los Angeles and Wentrup Gallery in Berlin.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Haendel, (born 1976, New York City) is an American artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, California.
