Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Matt Mullican. It dates from 1985 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The piece is held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, reflecting its significance within contemporary printmaking practices of the 1980s.
Created in 1985, this screenprint by Matt Mullican is part of a broader body of work exploring systems of meaning and symbolic representation. Made with stark red, white, and black ink on paper, it combines text and abstract forms in a structured yet enigmatic layout. The piece is held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, reflecting its significance within contemporary printmaking practices of the 1980s.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes personal identity—'MULLICAN'—with the abstract concept of 'HEAVEN,' suggesting a tension between the self and the metaphysical. Below the artist’s name, a red field contains a teapot, dots, and the number '56,' elements that resist fixed interpretation. These symbols may reference internal systems of thought, personal mythology, or arbitrary categorizations, inviting viewers to consider how meaning is constructed rather than given.
Technique & Style
Mullican employed screenprinting to achieve sharp, flat areas of color and precise typography. The composition is divided into two horizontal zones, each governed by clear geometric boundaries. The limited palette and clean lines emphasize clarity over ornamentation, aligning with conceptual art’s preference for legibility. The technique allows for repetition and modulation, consistent with Mullican’s interest in systems that organize perception.
History & Provenance
Produced in 1985, the print emerged during a period when Mullican was developing his signature visual language rooted in cartography, symbolism, and self-reflection. It entered the collection of The Museum of Modern Art shortly after its creation, indicating early institutional recognition. The work has since been included in exhibitions focusing on post-conceptual print practices and the intersection of language and image in contemporary art.
Context
Mullican’s practice in the 1980s responded to broader cultural inquiries into identity, knowledge systems, and the limits of language. His work paralleled conceptual and semiotic trends in art, while resisting purely theoretical approaches by grounding abstraction in personal and symbolic forms. The teapot, number, and word 'HEAVEN' reflect a broader interest in how mundane objects and terms can become vessels for deeper, often private, significance.
Legacy
This screenprint exemplifies Mullican’s enduring investigation into how meaning is encoded and decoded. His integration of text, symbol, and structure influenced later artists working at the intersection of language and visual form. The work remains a reference point in discussions about the role of personal symbolism in contemporary art and the potential of printmaking to convey complex, non-narrative ideas.
Artist & collection
Artist
Matt Mullican (born September 18, 1951) is an American artist and educator. He is the child of artists Lee Mullican and Luchita Hurtado. Mullican lives and works in both Berlin and New York City.
