Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil drawing by Sam Gordon. It dates from 2002 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2002, this untitled work by Sam Gordon is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. It is a mixed-media drawing on paper that combines oil, synthetic polymer paint, felt‑tip and ballpoint pens, spray paint, pencil, and metallic leaf, resulting in a layered, tactile surface.
Subject & Meaning
Scattered across the circle are assorted symbols—stars, stylized flowers, and a pair of shoes—linked by dotted lines that hint at an associative network.
The composition centers on a large, white circular form textured to suggest a cracked surface, evoking a celestial body. A dark, sinuous line bisects the circle, while a background of mottled pink, gray and white provides a muted atmospheric field. Scattered across the circle are assorted symbols—stars, stylized flowers, and a pair of shoes—linked by dotted lines that hint at an associative network.
Technique & Style
Gordon employs a collage of drawing and painting media, allowing each material to contribute distinct marks: oil and polymer paint build up color fields, while pens and pencils render fine details. Metallic leaf adds reflective accents, and spray paint introduces soft gradients. The juxtaposition of precise line work with textured surfaces creates a hybrid visual language that balances abstraction and figurative suggestion.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced in the early 2000s, a period when Gordon explored interdisciplinary approaches to drawing. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its creation, becoming part of the institution’s representation of contemporary mixed-media practices.
Context
During the early 2000s, many artists were interrogating the boundaries between drawing and painting, often incorporating unconventional materials. Gordon’s work reflects this trend, integrating everyday drawing tools with painterly substances to question traditional hierarchies of medium.
Artist & collection
