Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Circle One Raymond Pettibon. It dates from 21 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is an offset lithograph produced by the collaborative imprint Circle One, with Raymond Pettibon credited as the artist. Executed in 2021, the work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with punk‑rock visual culture.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts three figures rendered in a loose, black‑and‑white line style.
The image depicts three figures rendered in a loose, black‑and‑white line style. A central woman, cigarette in hand, wears a look of irritation; to her left a man slouches in a chair, gaze directed downward; to her right a second man points aggressively, his speech bubble delivering a sardonic remark about self‑destruction. The scene functions as a promotional poster for a concert series titled Black Flag III, suggesting a critique of the nihilistic rhetoric sometimes associated with underground music scenes.
Technique & Style
Created as an offset lithograph, the piece employs the traditional planographic process in which a grease‑based image is transferred from a metal plate to paper via a printing press. Pettibon’s characteristic sketchy line work and stark monochrome palette are preserved through the high‑contrast reproduction, emphasizing immediacy and rawness.
History & Provenance
The work was issued as part of a limited‑edition series of concert posters for the Black Flag III shows held at a venue known as The Cuckoo’s Nest. After its initial distribution, the print entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view as an example of contemporary printmaking linked to music subculture.
Context
Pettibon’s practice has long intersected with the Southern California punk scene, providing visual identities for bands and shows. The inclusion of groups such as Saccharine Trust and Overkill situates the poster within the early‑1990s hardcore milieu, while the graphic’s self‑referential humor reflects the artist’s broader engagement with countercultural narratives.
Legacy
As a museum‑acquired artifact, the lithograph illustrates the elevation of ephemera—concert flyers and underground posters—into the realm of fine art. It underscores the lasting influence of punk aesthetics on contemporary visual culture and affirms Pettibon’s role in documenting that history through print.
Artist & collection
