Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an acrylic drawing by Noah Davis. It dates from 2009 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 2009, this work combines acrylic paint with gold leaf applied to paper.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2009, this work combines acrylic paint with gold leaf applied to paper. A dark field forms the backdrop for a square of textured gold, within which four blue eyes are arranged symmetrically—two near the top and two near the bottom—each slightly off‑center. The eyes stare outward, establishing a direct visual dialogue with the viewer.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the pair of eyes, rendered in a flat, unembellished style that nonetheless conveys intensity. By placing the gaze within a luminous gold surface, the artist invites contemplation of presence and identity, suggesting an intimate encounter that transcends conventional portraiture and foregrounds the act of looking itself.
Technique & Style
Acrylic serves as both ground and color field, while thin sheets of gold leaf are adhered to create a reflective, uneven surface. The gold’s rough texture adds depth, contrasting with the smooth, matte blue pigment of the eyes. The overall visual language is minimalist, relying on stark geometry and limited color to generate tension.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced by an American painter and installation artist who co‑founded a community‑focused museum in Los Angeles in 2012. It represents one of his later works, completed four years before his death in 2015 from a rare soft‑tissue cancer. The artwork remains in private collections, having been exhibited in several contemporary art venues.
Context
Emerging from a practice that frequently portrayed Black subjects in quotidian settings, the artist’s use of gold leaf references both African diasporic visual traditions and modernist abstraction. The work’s focus on ordinary, humanizing details aligns with his broader interest in challenging stereotypes and highlighting everyday moments within a contemporary aesthetic framework.
Artist & collection
Artist
Noah Davis (June 3, 1983 – August 29, 2015), was an American painter and installation artist.
