Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint drawing by Lari Pittman. It dates from 1990 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1990, this work by Lari Pittman is executed in synthetic polymer paint and enamel on paper. It resides in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. The composition is densely layered, combining graphic elements with gestural brushwork. Its scale and intensity distinguish it from conventional drawings, bridging painting and graphic design through its aggressive use of color and form.
Subject & Meaning
Floating circles bearing numerals—60, 34, 17—anchor the composition, each enclosing simplified depictions of dripping faucets or hands holding water.
Floating circles bearing numerals—60, 34, 17—anchor the composition, each enclosing simplified depictions of dripping faucets or hands holding water. These motifs suggest domestic rituals, possibly evoking scarcity, waste, or unseen labor. The numbers resist clear interpretation, functioning as cryptic markers rather than measurements. The imagery blends the mundane with the abstract, inviting but refusing a singular narrative.
Technique & Style
Pittman applied thick, opaque layers of enamel and polymer paint, creating a tactile surface that appears both deliberate and spontaneous. Colors—vibrant yellows, deep reds, and muddy browns—are splattered and smeared across the paper, generating a sense of visual overload. The precision of the circular forms contrasts with the chaotic background, producing a tension between control and disorder.
History & Provenance
The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection following its completion in 1990. It is part of a broader series from Pittman’s early career in which he explored narrative fragmentation and queer identity through dense, symbol-laden compositions. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s growing interest in post-1980s figurative work that challenged traditional boundaries of medium and meaning.
Context
Emerging during the height of the culture wars, Pittman’s work responded to the visual language of advertising, political posters, and queer subcultures. This piece reflects a moment when artists were redefining drawing as a site for complex storytelling, incorporating personal, political, and pop-cultural references. The work resists easy categorization, aligning with a generation that rejected minimalist purity in favor of layered, hybrid forms.
Legacy
Untitled exemplifies Pittman’s influence on contemporary drawing practices that embrace narrative ambiguity and visual overload. His integration of decorative motifs with political undertones paved the way for later artists exploring identity through ornamental complexity. The work remains a touchstone for discussions on how surface, color, and symbolism can convey layered social meanings without explicit commentary.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lari George Pittman is a Colombian-American contemporary artist and painter. Pittman is an Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Painting and Drawing at the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.
