Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Richard Hawkins. It dates from 1996 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
It is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is catalogued as a drawing despite its collage‑like construction.
Created in 1996, this untitled work by Los Angeles‑based artist Richard Hawkins consists of printed paper that has been cut, taped together, and further marked with a felt‑tip pen. The piece combines multiple layers of paper, producing a varied surface of texture and color. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is catalogued as a drawing despite its collage‑like construction.
Technique & Style
Hawkins employs a straightforward, low‑tech approach: he selects printed matter, slices it into shapes, reassembles the fragments with adhesive, and adds linear details with a felt‑tip pen. This method foregrounds the materiality of the paper, allowing the seams and overlapping edges to generate visual depth. The work reflects a broader interest in collage, using everyday printed images as raw material for compositional experimentation.
Subject & Meaning
The composition does not present a recognizable narrative; instead, it juxtaposes fragments of mass‑produced imagery, inviting viewers to consider the proliferation of visual culture. By recontextualizing familiar printed surfaces, Hawkins highlights the arbitrariness of meaning when images are removed from their original contexts and recombined in a new, abstract arrangement.
History & Provenance
Richard Hawkins, born in 1961 in Mexia, Texas, earned a BFA from the University of Texas at Austin (1984) and an MFA from CalArts (1988). After a period writing short stories, he turned fully to visual art, focusing on sculpture and collage that often incorporate pop‑culture sources. The untitled 1996 piece entered MoMA’s collection through acquisition, adding to the museum’s representation of late‑20th‑century collage practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
Richard Hawkins (born 1961) is an American artist. Born in Mexia, Texas, he lives and works in Los Angeles. His works are held by museums including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the…
