Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Elizabeth Murray. It dates from 1988 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
It is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed as an example of Murray’s experimental approach to printmaking.
Created in 1988, this untitled work by Elizabeth Murray is a lithographic composition assembled from twelve separate sheets of paper that have been cut and rejoined. The resulting surface is uneven and layered, giving the piece a fragmented, collage-like quality. It is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed as an example of Murray’s experimental approach to printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The image suggests a hybrid figure that merges facial features with avian elements. Warm orange‑brown forms outline an eye, nose and mouth, while a jagged wing of blue‑green tones extends from the left side. Intersecting black lines cut across the composition, creating a sense of disintegration that invites viewers to consider themes of identity, transformation, and the tension between organic and constructed forms.
Technique & Style
Murray employed traditional lithography to produce the initial image, then manually divided the print into twelve sections. These fragments were rearranged and adhered to a single support, producing visible seams and a textured surface. The juxtaposition of bold color fields, sharp linear cuts, and the collage assembly reflects her interest in combining painterly gestures with the reproducibility of print media.
History & Provenance
After its completion in 1988, the work entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains. The piece has been cited in exhibitions focusing on late‑20th‑century American printmakers and in scholarly discussions of Murray’s practice, highlighting her willingness to blur the boundaries between print, painting, and assemblage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Elizabeth Murray was an American painter, printmaker and draughtsman. Her works are in many major public collections, including those of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the…
