Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Wangechi Mutu. It dates from 2006 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2006, *Untitled* is a portfolio of eight printed works by Wangechi Mutu, combining etching, aquatint, and collage.
Created in 2006, *Untitled* is a portfolio of eight printed works by Wangechi Mutu, combining etching, aquatint, and collage. Five pieces include collage elements, while three are aquatints with added paper fragments. The set reflects Mutu’s meticulous printmaking process and her interest in layered visual narratives. Held in The Museum of Modern Art’s collection, the portfolio exemplifies her hybrid approach to image-making, bridging traditional techniques with contemporary assemblage.
Subject & Meaning
The works depict fragmented female figures constructed from cut and layered imagery, blending anatomical references with organic and mechanical forms. These figures serve as sites where cultural memory, gendered stereotypes, and postcolonial identity intersect. Mutu resists singular interpretations, instead inviting viewers to consider how bodies are shaped by historical narratives, media representations, and global power dynamics. The collaged elements suggest reconstruction rather than idealization.
Technique & Style
Mutu employs traditional printmaking methods—etching and aquatint—to create richly textured grounds, then overlays them with hand-cut paper, fabric, and inked fragments. The resulting surfaces are dense and tactile, with dark, moody tones dominating the palette. Her style merges African aesthetic traditions with Western modernist techniques, producing figures that appear both ancient and constructed. The collage elements disrupt linear perspective, emphasizing dislocation and multiplicity.
History & Provenance
The portfolio was produced in 2006 during a period of intensified focus on printmaking in Mutu’s practice. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, reflecting institutional recognition of her innovative approach to print media. The works were made in limited numbers using hand-pressed techniques, reinforcing their status as unique objects within a reproducible medium. No public record of prior ownership exists prior to MoMA’s acquisition.
Context
Mutu created this portfolio amid broader conversations in contemporary art about representation, hybridity, and the female body. Her work responds to colonial visual histories that exoticized African women, offering counter-narratives through layered, non-linear compositions. The use of collage echoes Dada and Surrealist strategies but is reoriented toward postcolonial critique. The portfolio aligns with her broader practice of reimagining identity through material juxtaposition.
Legacy
This portfolio solidified Mutu’s reputation for redefining printmaking as a space for cultural interrogation. Its integration into MoMA’s collection helped expand the institutional understanding of contemporary African diasporic art. Subsequent artists have drawn from her method of combining print with collage to explore identity and trauma. The work remains a reference point for how traditional techniques can be repurposed to challenge dominant visual norms.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wangechi Mutu (; born 1972) is a Kenyan American visual artist, known primarily for her painting, sculpture, film, and performance work.
