Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Sergej Jensen. It dates from 2011 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2011, this work by Sergej Jensen combines oil, synthetic polymer paint, and sewn fabric on a cotton support. The composition is dominated by a muted gray field that serves as a backdrop for a handful of vivid, tactile elements. The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed as a representative example of Jensen’s mixed‑media practice.
Subject & Meaning
Against the neutral background, a vertical assemblage of fabric strips—yellow, black, red, and green—appears stacked and loosely stitched, their edges frayed.
Against the neutral background, a vertical assemblage of fabric strips—yellow, black, red, and green—appears stacked and loosely stitched, their edges frayed. To the right, an amorphous dark form, rendered in smudged paint, suggests a hand or a shadow, intersected by red and brown streaks. The juxtaposition of manufactured textiles with gestural paint invites contemplation of materiality and the tension between order and disruption.
Technique & Style
Jensen employs a heavy impasto application of oil and synthetic polymer, building up thick, uneven layers that convey a tactile surface. The sewn fabric is integrated directly onto the cotton ground, creating a relief that protrudes from the painted plane. The palette is restrained except for the saturated fabric colors, emphasizing contrast between the matte gray field and the vivid, three‑dimensional strips.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its completion, reflecting the institution’s interest in contemporary artists who merge painting with textile interventions. Its acquisition marked an early institutional endorsement of Jensen’s exploration of hybrid media, situating the work within MoMA’s broader narrative of post‑2000 mixed‑media practices.
Artist & collection
