Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Marcel Dzama. It dates from 2002 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2002, this untitled work by Marcel Dzama is a drawing executed on paper with a mixture of ink, watercolor and an unconventional additive—root‑beer concentrate. The piece belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed among other contemporary works.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents four anthropomorphic figures whose bodies are rendered as tree trunks. The first figure sits, its head a sprouting branch, clutching a long stick that suggests a club. The remaining three stand in a line, their bare trunks forming legs, faces left blank, while a small bird perches on the arm‑branch of the last figure, adding a quiet narrative element.
Technique & Style
Dzama combines traditional watercolor pigments with ink and the viscous root‑beer concentrate, producing a translucent, slightly caramel‑toned wash. The palette is restrained, dominated by pale hues that emphasize the simple, schematic forms. The use of non‑traditional medium contributes to a muted surface texture, reinforcing the work’s understated, enigmatic atmosphere.
History & Provenance
After its completion in 2002, the drawing entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of early‑21st‑century drawing. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in contemporary artists who experiment with mixed media and narrative figuration.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marcel Dzama is a contemporary artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada who currently lives and works in New York City. His work has been exhibited internationally, in particular his ink and watercolor drawings.
