Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Sarah Lucas. 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 drawing by Sarah Lucas is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Executed on colored paper, the work combines pencil with an unconventional material—cigarette ash—to produce its lines. The piece measures roughly a standard sheet size and is presented without a frame, emphasizing its raw, tactile qualities.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a rider astride a rearing horse, rendered in loose, gestural outlines. The rider clutches a long, slender object that suggests a spear or staff, while the horse’s mane and tail are suggested by quick, wavy strokes. The sparse imagery invites viewers to consider themes of motion, control, and the interplay between figure and animal.
Technique & Style
Lucas employs a hybrid drawing method: fine pencil marks define the primary forms, while smudged lines derived from burning cigarettes add texture and a slightly uneven edge. The background is a uniform tan hue, allowing the sketchy figures to stand out. The paper’s rough surface contributes to the work’s tactile presence, reinforcing the artist’s interest in materiality.
History & Provenance
The drawing was produced in the early 2000s, a period when Lucas was exploring the use of everyday objects as artistic media. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its creation, becoming part of the institution’s contemporary drawing collection.
Context
During the early 2000s, Lucas’s practice often incorporated found objects and unconventional drawing tools to challenge traditional notions of fine art media. This work aligns with that trajectory, using cigarettes—a quotidian, consumable item—to generate line work, thereby questioning the boundaries between art and everyday life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sarah Lucas is an English artist. She is part of the generation of Young British Artists who emerged in 1988. Her works frequently employ visual puns and bawdy humour by incorporating photography, sculpture, collage and found objects.
