Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Laura Owens. It dates from 2010 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 2010, this work consists of three aquatint prints that are displayed together as a single composition.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2010, this work consists of three aquatint prints that are displayed together as a single composition. The set belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with printmaking during a period when she was active in the Los Angeles art community.
Subject & Meaning
The three panels present abstracted cloud‑like formations rendered in stark white against a backdrop of deep blues, purples and near‑black tones. The juxtaposition of luminous shapes with a dark field suggests a play of light and atmosphere, inviting viewers to contemplate the tension between presence and void.
Technique & Style
Executed in aquatint, the prints achieve tonal variation through fine grain and controlled acid exposure, allowing the artist to produce soft, smoky gradients. The loose, gestural handling of the white forms creates a sense of movement, while the saturated color fields retain the painterly intensity typical of the artist’s larger canvases.
History & Provenance
The artist, an American painter born in 1970, emerged from the Los Angeles scene in the late 1990s and has been active as a gallery owner and educator. After its creation, the three‑panel set entered MoMA’s holdings, where it remains part of the museum’s print and drawing department.
Artist & collection
Artist
Laura Owens (born 1970) is an American painter, gallery owner and educator. She emerged in the late 1990s from the Los Angeles art scene. She is known for large-scale paintings that combine a variety of art historical…
