Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Mary Heilmann. It dates from 1987 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Mary Heilmann created this untitled screenprint in 1987. It is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection and reflects her transition from painting to printmaking. Based in Manhattan and Bridgehampton, Heilmann has long engaged with abstraction, using simplified forms and bold color to challenge traditional notions of composition and gesture in contemporary art.
Subject & Meaning
The work contains no representational imagery. Instead, it presents three abstract elements: a yellow square, a jagged black line, and a red rectangle with textured strokes. These shapes interact without narrative, inviting viewers to consider spatial relationships and emotional resonance through color and form rather than symbolism or storytelling.
Technique & Style
Screenprinting allowed Heilmann to achieve flat, saturated fields of color with sharp edges. The black zigzag appears dense and deliberate, contrasting with the rough, scraped texture in the red area. The yellow square grounds the composition, while the irregular brushwork in the red introduces a sense of spontaneity, blending industrial print methods with painterly intervention.
History & Provenance
Created in 1987, this print entered MoMA’s collection shortly after its production. Heilmann had already established herself in the New York art scene through gallery exhibitions and institutional shows. The work reflects her broader exploration of print media during the late 1980s, a period when she expanded her practice beyond canvas into multiples and editions.
Context
In the 1980s, Heilmann’s work emerged alongside a generation of artists redefining abstraction through personal expression and informal aesthetics. Her use of color and asymmetry diverged from the rigid formalism of earlier modernist movements. This print aligns with a broader shift toward emotionally charged, intuitive abstraction in post-minimalist art.
Legacy
Heilmann’s approach to abstraction, particularly her integration of craft, color, and irregularity, has influenced subsequent generations of artists, especially women working in painting and print. Her willingness to blend high and low visual languages, and to embrace imperfection, helped expand the possibilities of abstract art in the late 20th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Heilmann is an American painter based in Manhattan and Bridgehampton in Long Island, New York.
