Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a gouache drawing by Kevin Appel. It dates from 2003 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Kevin Appel’s 2003 work Untitled is a mixed‑media drawing that combines cut‑and‑pasted printed paper, additional paper fragments, wood veneer, gouache, and pencil on paper. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Its composition presents a fragmented architectural form that suggests a structure being pulled apart, exposing interior elements through a collage of tactile and drawn materials.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a deconstructed house, its walls opened to reveal raw wood and stone surfaces. Angled wooden beams jut outward, evoking a sense of structural instability, while sections rendered only in pencil outline the form without color. This juxtaposition of material and line invites contemplation of construction, decay, and the layers that constitute built environments.
Technique & Style
Appel employs a collage approach, adhering printed and plain paper pieces alongside actual wood veneer to create a three‑dimensional effect.
Appel employs a collage approach, adhering printed and plain paper pieces alongside actual wood veneer to create a three‑dimensional effect. Gouache adds opaque washes of color, while pencil lines define edges and interior spaces. The combination of tangible materials with drawn elements blurs the boundary between drawing and assemblage, emphasizing texture and the process of building up and stripping away.
History & Provenance
Created in 2003, Untitled entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it remains on view. The work reflects Appel’s ongoing exploration of architectural motifs and the interplay between representation and materiality, situating it within his early‑2000s period of mixed‑media experimentation.
Context
During the early 2000s, contemporary artists frequently investigated the collapse of traditional media boundaries, integrating found objects and collage into drawing practices. Appel’s Untitled aligns with this trend, referencing architectural disassembly while employing a hands‑on, constructivist methodology that resonates with broader dialogues about space, construction, and the material conditions of art.
Artist & collection
