Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Lucy McKenzie. It dates from 2001 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2001, this linoleum cut by Lucy McKenzie incorporates an actual banknote as a collaged element, blurring the line between printed image and physical object. The work is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies McKenzie’s interest in repurposing mundane materials to challenge conventional notions of artistic media and value.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a tall, windowed structure with a single banknote inserted into one pane. Beside it, a rudimentary figure stands near a tree rendered with abrupt, angular lines. The banknote, bearing a castle motif, introduces themes of institutional power and economic symbolism, while the figure’s isolation suggests alienation within built environments.
Technique & Style
McKenzie employed a linoleum block print for the architectural and figural forms, using bold, simplified lines typical of printmaking traditions. The addition of a real banknote—physically taped into the composition—introduces material authenticity and disrupts the illusion of the printed surface, merging craft with found object.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in 2001 and entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly thereafter. Its inclusion reflects the institution’s interest in contemporary practices that interrogate the boundaries of print, collage, and conceptual art. No prior ownership history beyond the artist’s studio is publicly documented.
Context
McKenzie’s practice in the early 2000s often engaged with architecture, currency, and the aesthetics of institutional power. This piece aligns with broader post-conceptual trends in which artists used everyday materials to question systems of value and representation, particularly in the wake of globalization and financial expansion.
Legacy
The work contributes to a broader dialogue in contemporary art about the materiality of images and the symbolic weight of currency. McKenzie’s integration of real money into her prints has influenced subsequent artists exploring economic metaphors through physical intervention in printed surfaces.
Artist & collection
