Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a crayon drawing by Olav Christopher Jenssen. It dates from 2006 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2006, this untitled work by Olav Christopher Jenssen consists of six separate sheets of paper covered in crayon. The pieces are assembled as a single composition and are part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The upper two sheets combine lines of text with bright, geometric shapes, while the lower four present a network of abstract, organic forms. The juxtaposition of written elements and free‑standing shapes suggests a dialogue between language and visual perception.
Technique & Style
Jenssen applies pastel crayons in loose, expressive strokes, allowing the pigment’s texture and the paper’s surface to remain visible. The palette—soft pinks, greens, blues, and yellows—creates a muted, dreamlike atmosphere, and the forms evoke cellular or molecular structures.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in Norway in 2006 and entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly thereafter, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s contemporary drawing collection.
Context
Jenssen’s practice often explores the tension between abstraction and representation, employing vibrant color fields and gestural marks. This piece aligns with his broader interest in the interplay of organic motifs and textual fragments within a non‑narrative framework.
Artist & collection
Artist
Olav Christopher Jenssen is a Norwegian artist. Jenssen is considered one of the most acclaimed contemporary Norwegian artists, with a significant international career. He has lived and worked in Berlin for years. From…
