Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Neo Expressionist artist Tishan Hsu. It dates from 1987 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, executed in 1987 by artist Tishan Hsu, comprises four wooden panels assembled as a single work. The piece combines oil, alkyd, enamel, acrylic, rubber, aluminum and vinyl cement, producing a layered surface that blurs the line between painting and assemblage. It belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents four worn wooden drawers, each capped with polished metal handles and a modest vent near the base. The juxtaposition of everyday furniture elements with a richly textured surface invites contemplation of materiality and the passage of time, suggesting a quiet meditation on the objects that hold personal belongings.
Technique & Style
Hsu applies paint in thick, impasto strokes, building up a tactile relief that gives the wood a near‑sculptural presence. Warm reds transition into deeper browns across the panels, while the glossy metal accents catch light, creating a subtle glow that enhances the illusion of depth without rendering fine grain details.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1980s, Untitled entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its completion, becoming part of the institution’s post‑industrial painting collection. The work has remained in MoMA’s permanent display, representing a key moment in Hsu’s exploration of mixed media.
Context
The late 1980s saw many artists merging painting with object-based practices, challenging traditional media boundaries. Hsu’s incorporation of industrial materials such as aluminum and vinyl cement reflects this broader trend, aligning the piece with contemporaneous investigations into the physicality of the painted surface.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tishan Hsu is an American contemporary artist based in New York. Hsu's practice examines the "embodiment of technology," or technology's impact on phenomenology and affect. Hsu's works span across painting, sculpture,…
