Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint drawing by Peter Halley. It dates from 2003 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2003, this untitled work by Peter Halley consists of synthetic polymer paint applied to printed paper. It is classified as a drawing and is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The composition is dominated by a simple geometric arrangement of squares and rectangles rendered in flat, saturated hues.
Subject & Meaning
The piece presents a large blue square outlined by a thick red band at its base. Within this field lies a smaller red square, which contains three vertically stacked yellow rectangles. The stark, unmodulated colors and the floating quality of the yellow forms suggest a focus on abstract spatial relationships rather than representational content.
Technique & Style
Halley employs synthetic polymer paint, giving the surface a smooth yet slightly uneven texture, as if brushed quickly. The edges of the shapes are deliberately imperfect, lacking crisp precision, which contrasts with the overall flatness of the color fields. This approach aligns with his broader interest in minimal geometric abstraction and the tension between order and irregularity.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in the early 2000s, a period when Halley was exploring the intersection of painting and drawing through industrial materials. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, where it remains on display as part of the institution’s holdings of contemporary American art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Peter Halley is an American artist and a central figure in the Neo-Conceptualist movement of the 1980s.
