Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Wangechi Mutu. It dates from 2004 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2004, this untitled work by Wangechi Mutu combines cut‑and‑pasted printed paper, watercolor, spray paint and adhesive stickers on a sheet of paper that has been made translucent. The piece is classified as a drawing and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a hybrid figure whose human head is split open, spilling a red fluid, while the body is covered in coarse hair and ends in elongated, high‑heeled legs and claw‑like hands. Surrounding the central form are fragmented elements that suggest grass, insects, faces and animal shapes, evoking a dreamlike, unsettling landscape that interrogates notions of the female body, identity and bodily transformation.
Technique & Style
Mutu constructs the image through a layered collage process, adhering printed paper fragments, pressure‑sensitive stickers and painted surfaces onto a transparentized support. The use of spray paint and watercolor adds both opaque washes and atmospheric tones, while the tactile quality of the cut‑outs creates a sense of assembled, chaotic materiality.
History & Provenance
Born in Kenya in 1972, Mutu works between Nairobi and Brooklyn, engaging in painting, sculpture, film and performance. The untitled drawing entered MoMA’s holdings as part of the museum’s effort to document contemporary practices that blend collage, mixed media and feminist concerns.
Context
Mutu’s practice frequently addresses the female form through fragmented, hybrid bodies, exploring themes of self‑image, cultural identity and environmental anxieties. This work aligns with her broader oeuvre, which utilizes layered materials to question beauty standards, power structures and the impact of ecological change on the body.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wangechi Mutu (; born 1972) is a Kenyan American visual artist, known primarily for her painting, sculpture, film, and performance work.
