Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Ken Price. It dates from 1970 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Each panel presents a uniform yellow field with a central vase and a small, dynamic human figure engaged in a distinct action.
Created in 1970, this photolithograph by Ken Price is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. It consists of six small, identically sized squares arranged in a two-by-three grid. Each panel presents a uniform yellow field with a central vase and a small, dynamic human figure engaged in a distinct action. The work’s structure invites sequential viewing, transforming a static print into a rhythmic visual sequence.
Subject & Meaning
The recurring vase serves as a stable anchor, while the black figures—jumping, climbing, or pausing—introduce movement and variation. Their actions suggest playful, almost absurd interactions with the object, evoking themes of repetition, ritual, or whimsical defiance. The absence of narrative context leaves interpretation open, emphasizing physical presence over story, and the figure’s relationship to form rather than identity.
Technique & Style
Using photolithography, Price achieved crisp, flat color fields with sharp edges and no gradation. The yellow background and black figures are rendered with minimal detail, relying on bold silhouettes. The vase’s only shading is a simple, unmodulated shadow, reinforcing the graphic quality. The technique enhances the work’s clarity, aligning with Price’s interest in clean, sculptural forms adapted to two-dimensional media.
History & Provenance
This work was produced in 1970 during a period when Price was increasingly exploring printmaking alongside his ceramic sculptures. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, reflecting institutional interest in artists bridging craft and fine art. Its preservation in a major museum underscores its significance within Price’s broader practice and 1970s American print culture.
Context
Emerging from a West Coast art scene that valued experimentation and informal expression, Price’s work resonated with contemporaries exploring abstraction and repetition. This print aligns with broader trends in 1970s art that questioned traditional narrative and embraced serial imagery, while its playful tone distinguishes it from more austere conceptual works of the era.
Legacy
The work exemplifies Price’s ability to translate sculptural sensibilities into graphic form, influencing later artists interested in the intersection of craft, humor, and seriality. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection has helped cement its place in discussions of postwar American printmaking, particularly as a bridge between ceramics and graphic arts in the late 20th century.
Artist & collection
