Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an acrylic drawing by Lari Pittman. It dates from 2001 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2001, this untitled work by Lari Pittman combines acrylic, alkyd, aerosol, enamel and gesso applied to board. Though catalogued as a drawing, the piece functions as a densely layered composition that now belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a crowded interior scene: a woman's face dominates the upper right, grasping a long, slender implement that suggests either a broom or an umbrella. Beneath her, a wobbly table supports a kettle, a loaf of bread, and a potted plant in a striped container, while the backdrop merges architectural forms, striped patterns and a sky that oscillates between bright and stormy.
Technique & Style
Pittman builds the surface with thick applications of paint, interspersed with precise, hard-edged lines. The palette is vivid, featuring saturated reds, blues and deep blacks that contrast sharply with the surrounding tones. The juxtaposition of realistic objects and slightly distorted proportions creates a tension between familiarity and the uncanny.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in the early 2000s, a period when Pittman was intensifying his practice of layering media and imagery. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its creation, where it has been displayed as part of exhibitions exploring contemporary drawing and mixed-media practices.
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.
