Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an acrylic painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Kay WalkingStick. It dates from 1975 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1975, this non‑representational canvas combines acrylic paint with wax‑based colored ink.
About this work
Overview
The surrounding field is a muted, earthy blend of brown, yellow and red, lending the piece a restrained yet dynamic visual presence.
Created in 1975, this non‑representational canvas combines acrylic paint with wax‑based colored ink. The composition centers on a broad, burnt‑orange rectangle edged in a fine black line, within which four sweeping, black‑outlined curves suggest a bow‑like or parenthetical form. The surrounding field is a muted, earthy blend of brown, yellow and red, lending the piece a restrained yet dynamic visual presence.
Subject & Meaning
The work’s abstract language invites contemplation of balance and tension through its interplay of solid geometric mass and fluid, curvilinear gestures. The central rectangle anchors the surface, while the surrounding curves generate a sense of movement that contrasts with the static field, encouraging viewers to consider the relationship between form and space.
Technique & Style
Employing acrylic’s opacity alongside the translucency of wax ink, the artist achieves crisp, defined edges and subtle tonal variation. The thin black outlines demarcate both the rectangle and the internal curves, emphasizing line work characteristic of contemporary abstract practices of the 1970s, where mixed media on canvas expanded formal possibilities.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art shortly after its creation, reflecting institutional interest in the evolving abstract discourse of the period. It remains part of MoMA’s holdings, representing the artist’s early exploration of non‑representational forms before his later focus on landscape motifs.
Context
Produced during a decade when abstract expressionism gave way to more diverse, multicultural perspectives, the piece aligns with broader movements that incorporated non‑Western visual vocabularies into contemporary art. Its minimalist composition and use of color echo trends in American abstraction while hinting at the artist’s cultural heritage, which would later surface more explicitly in his landscape works.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kay WalkingStick (born March 2, 1935) is a Native American landscape artist and a member of the Cherokee Nation.
