Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Kerry James Marshall. It dates from 2000 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2000, this work by Kerry James Marshall employs newspaper as its material, forming a printed collage that combines bold lettering, cut‑out imagery, and layered graphics. The piece is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies Marshall’s interest in urban culture and musical motifs.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes the words “RHYTHM” and “MASTER” with a silhouetted drummer, while a street scene below depicts dancing figures, musicians, and pedestrians against a brick façade marked with “POW.” A yellow banner proclaiming “EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART” frames a series of small portrait heads, suggesting a celebration of communal energy and the pulse of city life.
Technique & Style
Marshall assembles printed newspaper fragments, overlaying typographic elements and photographic cut‑outs to create a layered poster aesthetic. The stark black text and high‑contrast images generate a graphic, almost graphic‑design quality, while the collage format allows for the integration of disparate visual references within a single plane.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings after its creation, reflecting the institution’s ongoing acquisition of contemporary American art. Marshall, born in Birmingham, Alabama, raised in South Central Los Angeles, and later based in Chicago, produced the piece as part of a larger project that explored print media.
Context
Marshall’s practice is noted for foregrounding Black figures and cultural narratives within contemporary art. This printed work aligns with his broader engagement with popular visual culture, music, and urban environments, echoing the artist’s teaching tenure at the University of Illinois at Chicago and his ongoing dialogue with American visual history.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kerry James Marshall (born October 17, 1955) is an American artist and professor, known for his paintings of Black figures.
