Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Judith Francisca Baca in 1992.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Untitled by Judith Francisca Baca (1992) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Overview

Created in 1992, this lithographic print by Judith Francisca Baca, an American artist, activist, and UCLA professor, offers a vivid, tripartite composition. The work is rendered in bold, saturated hues and divides the scene into three distinct zones, each populated with figures engaged in a communal event that suggests a public gathering or demonstration.

Subject & Meaning

The left panel presents a man in a striped shirt brandishing a newspaper whose headlines, though illegible, allude to significant current affairs.

The left panel presents a man in a striped shirt brandishing a newspaper whose headlines, though illegible, allude to significant current affairs. Central figures form a crowd observing an outdoor spectacle, surrounded by flags beneath a bright sky, while the rightmost section shows rooftop observers, some cheering and others gazing at airborne objects, hinting at collective attention to civic happenings.

Technique & Style

Executed through lithography, the image relies on flat, simplified forms and a limited palette to convey narrative clarity. Baca’s use of stark outlines and vivid color blocks creates a graphic quality that emphasizes the immediacy of public moments, while the division of space guides the viewer’s eye across the sequential scenes.

History & Provenance

The print emerged during Baca’s tenure at UCLA, a period marked by her involvement in community-oriented projects such as the Social and Public Art Resource Center and the Great Wall of Los Angeles mural. It reflects her broader practice of integrating art with social activism, though specific exhibition histories for this particular lithograph remain limited.

Context

Baca’s oeuvre frequently addresses Chicano identity and participatory art, situating this work within a larger discourse on public space and collective memory. The depiction of media, crowds, and aerial symbols resonates with early 1990s sociopolitical climates, underscoring the artist’s commitment to visualizing shared experiences.

Artist & collection

Artist

Judith Francisca Baca

Judith Francisca Baca (born September 20, 1946) is an American artist, activist, and professor of Chicano studies, world arts, and cultures based at the University of California, Los Angeles.