Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Raque Ford. It dates from 2020 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2020, this monotype and relief print by Raque Ford is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work combines layered paper elements with bold, unblended colors and textured edges. Its construction suggests an intuitive, hands-on process, blending cut-and-paste aesthetics with ink-based printing techniques to produce a dynamic, non-repeating image.
Subject & Meaning
The composition includes symbolic elements such as a peace sign, a stylized flower, and fragmented handwritten text, suggesting personal or emotional resonance.
The composition includes symbolic elements such as a peace sign, a stylized flower, and fragmented handwritten text, suggesting personal or emotional resonance. These motifs are embedded within abstract forms—scribbled lines resembling vegetation or motion, a blue circle with a diagonal stroke—creating a visual diary. The absence of clear narrative invites interpretation rooted in feeling rather than story.
Technique & Style
Ford employed monotype and relief printing to build the image through additive layers, allowing for spontaneous mark-making and visible paper textures. The torn edges of the purple ground and the flat, saturated shapes—yellow rectangles, blue discs—contrast with the gestural scribbles. The method emphasizes materiality and imperfection, rejecting smooth finishes in favor of tactile immediacy.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in 2020 and entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly thereafter. No prior exhibition or ownership history is publicly documented. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s interest in contemporary print practices that prioritize personal expression and experimental processes over traditional techniques.
Context
This piece aligns with a broader trend in early 21st-century printmaking that embraces collage, found materials, and autobiographical content. Ford’s approach echoes artists who use print media to explore identity, memory, and emotional states, often rejecting commercial polish in favor of raw, hand-crafted aesthetics rooted in DIY culture.
Legacy
As a recent addition to a major museum’s permanent collection, the work contributes to the evolving recognition of print as a medium for intimate, non-traditional expression. It signals a shift in institutional interest toward works that prioritize individual voice and material experimentation, influencing how contemporary printmaking is taught and exhibited.
Artist & collection
