Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a gouache drawing by Tomma Abts. It dates from 1996 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1996, this untitled gouache drawing belongs to the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Executed on paper, the work presents a composition of circular forms surrounded by radiating, jagged red lines, employing a flat, unshaded application of color typical of gouache.
Subject & Meaning
The piece arranges a series of round shapes—some rendered in deep blue with vivid green specks, others in a muted tan—against a backdrop of spiky red strokes that suggest outward bursts of energy. The juxtaposition of simple geometry and dynamic lines invites contemplation of balance and tension within abstract visual language.
Technique & Style
Using gouache, a water‑based medium that yields opaque, matte surfaces, the artist applies color in uniform, smooth planes without gradations of tone. This approach emphasizes bold chromatic contrasts, particularly the sharp green accents on the blue circles, and reinforces the work’s overall flat aesthetic.
History & Provenance
German‑born Tomma Abts, now based in London, produced the drawing early in her career. It entered MoMA’s holdings shortly after its creation, becoming part of the museum’s representation of contemporary abstract practice.
Context
Abts is known for her abstract paintings that explore formal relationships through repeated motifs. The untitled gouache aligns with her broader investigation of shape, color, and surface, preceding her receipt of the Turner Prize in 2006, which recognized her contributions to abstract art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tomma Abts (born 26 December 1967) is a German-born visual artist known for her abstract oil paintings. Abts won the Turner Prize in 2006. She currently lives and works in London, England.
