Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint drawing by Mike Kelley. It dates from 1988 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1988, this work is a drawing executed in polyvinyl acetate and co-polymer paint on paper.
About this work
Overview
It belongs to Mike Kelley’s broader exploration of materiality and gesture, where conventional artistic boundaries are deliberately blurred.
Created in 1988, this work is a drawing executed in polyvinyl acetate and co-polymer paint on paper. It belongs to Mike Kelley’s broader exploration of materiality and gesture, where conventional artistic boundaries are deliberately blurred. The piece resists figurative representation, favoring an unstructured composition that emphasizes process over form. It is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.
Subject & Meaning
The work offers no identifiable subject, instead presenting an abstract mass of pigment that suggests erosion, decay, or spontaneous accumulation. Its ambiguity invites interpretation as a record of physical action or emotional residue. Kelley often used such forms to evoke psychological states or the remnants of forgotten experiences, leaving meaning open to the viewer’s perception.
Technique & Style
Applied with a brush or sponge, the paint forms a dense, irregular shape with ragged edges and scattered droplets above it. The medium’s slow drying time allowed for pooling and bleeding, creating a textured, uneven surface. The absence of line or detail reinforces a sense of spontaneity, aligning with Kelley’s interest in non-traditional methods that challenge notions of draftsmanship.
History & Provenance
The work was produced during a period when Kelley was intensively engaging with drawing as a medium, often alongside his sculptural and performance projects. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection in the late 1980s or early 1990s, reflecting the institution’s growing recognition of conceptual and material-driven practices beyond conventional painting.
Context
In the late 1980s, Kelley was part of a generation of artists redefining drawing as a site for experimentation rather than representation. His use of industrial adhesives and casual application methods responded to post-punk aesthetics and a rejection of formalism. This piece aligns with contemporaneous work by artists who prioritized process, imperfection, and the physicality of materials.
Legacy
This work contributes to Kelley’s lasting influence on contemporary drawing practices that embrace chaos, material irregularity, and emotional ambiguity. It exemplifies how everyday substances and unrefined gestures can carry conceptual weight, inspiring later artists to question the hierarchy of medium and finish in art-making.
Artist & collection
Artist
Michael Kelley (October 27, 1954 – c. January 31, 2012) was an American artist whose work involved found objects, textile banners, drawings, assemblage, collage, performance, photography, sound and video. He also worked…
