Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Dennis Loesch Michael S. Riedel. It dates from 2001 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
This 2001 work looks like a mess of torn flyers and bright magazine scraps glued to a white wall.
This 2001 work looks like a mess of torn flyers and bright magazine scraps glued to a white wall. The paper chunks spell out words and colors that almost form a face—but not quite. It’s like someone grabbed a week’s worth of ads and mashed them together.
The trick here is that it’s not random. The artists used ripped posters from Warhol’s old shows. They’re playing with how fame and art get pasted around the city.
Next time you’re in New York, hunt for a Warhol show at The Museum of Modern Art.
Overview
Untitled is a 2001 paper collage by Michael S. Riedel and Dennis Loesch, constructed from cut and layered printed materials. The work is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection and belongs to the broader category of drawing, despite its reliance on found printed media. Its composition appears chaotic, yet it is meticulously assembled from fragments of promotional materials related to Andy Warhol’s exhibitions.
Subject & Meaning
The work reconfigures fragments of advertising posters from past Warhol exhibitions, reassembling them into a fragmented, face-like arrangement that resists clear recognition. By repurposing these materials, the artists interrogate the circulation of artistic fame and the ephemeral nature of promotional imagery in urban environments. The result is a visual echo of cultural memory, where identity is suggested but never fully formed.
Technique & Style
The artists employed a collage technique using precisely torn pieces of printed paper, adhered directly to the wall. The palette derives from the original posters—vivid hues and bold typography—yet their recombination disrupts legibility. The surface retains the physical texture of adhesive and layered edges, emphasizing materiality over illusion. The style reflects a post-conceptual approach, prioritizing context and reuse over traditional composition.
History & Provenance
The materials used in Untitled were sourced from promotional posters for Andy Warhol’s exhibitions, collected and repurposed by the artists in 2001. The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, recognized for its critical engagement with art history and institutional representation. Its provenance is tied directly to the legacy of Warhol’s public presence and the visual culture surrounding his exhibitions.
Context
Created in the early 2000s, the piece responds to a period of heightened interest in appropriation and institutional critique within contemporary art. By reusing Warhol’s own promotional ephemera, Riedel and Loesch situate their work within a lineage of artists who examine how art is marketed, consumed, and remembered. The city of New York, as a site of constant visual overload, serves as both backdrop and subject.
Legacy
Untitled contributes to ongoing dialogues about authorship, reproduction, and the afterlife of artistic imagery. Its use of discarded advertising material as a medium underscores the transient nature of cultural visibility. The work remains a reference point in discussions of postmodern collage and the recursive relationship between art and its promotional apparatus.
Artist & collection
Artist
Dennis Loesch Michael S. Riedel
Dennis Loesch Michael S. Riedel was a German) (German artist.
