Untitled
1980
oil
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
1980
oil
From the collection of Museum of Modern Art
Dominant colour
Untitled is a 1980 oil by Jay DeFeo, a contemporary_abstract work, held at Museum of Modern Art.
This painting is two tall panels stuck together. The shapes look like two big, stretched-out figures, but they’re hard to tell apart. Black and white dominate, with some gray and a few faint colors hidden in the mix. The brushstrokes are thick in spots, almost like the paint was slapped on. There’s also paper and tape glued right into the work—it’s messy and uneven. The artist used a lot of different materials, not just paint. That’s why it feels rough and layered. The figures don’t look real—they’re more like abstract shadows with sharp edges. Look up impasto next to see how thick paint like this is used.
