Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Neo Expressionist artist Sue Williams. It dates from 1997 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1997, this untitled canvas by Sue Williams combines oil and acrylic pigments on a stretched surface. It belongs to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The work presents an abstract field of interlacing lines rendered in vivid orange, deep blue, and muted peach, set against a stark white ground that heightens the chromatic contrast.
Subject & Meaning
The composition consists of overlapping, looping marks that lack defined edges, suggesting motion rather than representation. The tangled gestures evoke a sense of kinetic energy, inviting viewers to experience color and form as autonomous phenomena rather than as depictions of recognizable objects.
Technique & Style
Williams applies the paint in thick, uneven strokes that resemble scribbles, building up substantial texture through layered application. The mixture of oil’s depth with acrylic’s quick-drying opacity creates a surface where the pigments retain a tactile presence, emphasizing the physicality of the medium over illusionistic rendering.
History & Provenance
After its completion in 1997, the painting entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s interest in late‑20th‑century abstract practices and the artist’s evolving exploration of materiality and gesture.
Artist & collection
