Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Keith Sonnier. It dates from 1973 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The white shapes stand out sharply against the dark background, almost like they were made by splashing or dripping something.
This image is mostly black with a few bright white shapes. There’s a big number "8" cracked in the middle, two five-pointed stars, and a blob of white that looks like spilled paint. Pinkish handwriting is scrawled in the top corners, including the year "1973" and some letters that don’t quite make words.
The white shapes stand out sharply against the dark background, almost like they were made by splashing or dripping something. The cracked number gives it a rough, uneven feel.
If you like this kind of bold, simple art, check out lithography next.
Overview
Created in 1973, this untitled work by Keith Sonnier is a screenprint enhanced with varnish. It belongs to a larger mixed‑media portfolio that includes seventeen screenprints, nine lithographs, two hybrid lithograph‑screenprints, a photocopy and a photograph. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition consists of a dark field punctuated by stark white elements: a fractured numeral “8,” two five‑pointed stars, and an irregular white blot that resembles a splash of paint. Pinkish handwritten marks, including the year and fragmented letters, hover in the upper corners, adding a sense of immediacy and informal annotation.
Technique & Style
Sonnier employed traditional screenprinting methods but altered the surface with varnish applications, producing a glossy contrast against the matte black background. The resulting texture emphasizes the work’s process‑oriented approach, aligning it with the Process Art movement’s focus on materiality and the artist’s hand.
History & Provenance
Keith Sonnier, known for his early neon installations and postminimalist sculpture, expanded his practice into printmaking during the early 1970s. This piece was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s holdings of contemporary print media.
Context
Emerging from the postminimalist tendency to question traditional sculpture, Sonnier’s print reflects a broader shift toward industrial and fleeting materials in the 1960s and 1970s. The inclusion of varnish and the stark visual language echo his parallel experiments with light and neon, underscoring his role in broadening the definition of sculptural practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Keith Sonnier (July 31, 1941 – July 18, 2020) was a postminimalist sculptor, performance artist, video and light artist.
