Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Kojo Griffin. It dates from 2004 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The work reflects Griffin’s interest in layered narratives and psychological space, using material hybridity to blur boundaries between memory and imagination.
Created in 2004, this drawing by Kojo Griffin combines collage, pencil, watercolor, and synthetic polymer paint on paper. It presents a fragmented, dreamlike scene divided into two distinct sides: one in monochrome sketch, the other in vivid color. The work reflects Griffin’s interest in layered narratives and psychological space, using material hybridity to blur boundaries between memory and imagination.
Subject & Meaning
Two hybrid figures inhabit the composition, one with a bird’s beak and striped shirt, the other with a feline face, reappearing in both grayscale and saturated color. Their transformation across the two panels suggests internal states or shifting identities. The domestic setting on the right, with its bed and intimate posture, contrasts with the sparse, floral wall on the left, hinting at a transition from external observation to private reverie.
Technique & Style
Griffin layers cut-and-pasted paper with hand-drawn elements and washes of watercolor and synthetic paint, creating a tactile, uneven surface. The left side relies on loose, sketchy lines, while the right employs bold, flat color and defined forms. This juxtaposition of mediums and mark-making generates a sense of instability, as if the scene is emerging from or dissolving into thought.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of The Museum of Modern Art following its creation in 2004. Griffin, based in the United States, has exhibited extensively in both solo and group contexts, with his practice gaining recognition for its introspective, symbolic imagery. The piece’s acquisition reflects institutional interest in contemporary drawings that challenge conventional boundaries between media and narrative.
Context
Emerging in the early 2000s, Griffin’s work aligns with a broader trend in contemporary drawing that prioritizes personal symbolism over formal abstraction. His use of anthropomorphic figures and domestic interiors echoes surrealist and outsider traditions, yet avoids overt references. The piece resists clear interpretation, instead inviting viewers to engage with its emotional ambiguity and material complexity.
Legacy
Griffin’s approach to collage and mixed media has influenced a generation of artists exploring identity through fragmented imagery. Untitled remains a key example of how drawing can function as a space for psychological exploration rather than representation. Its presence in MoMA’s collection affirms its role in expanding the definition of contemporary drawing beyond traditional limits.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kojo Griffin (born 1971 in Farmville, VA), is an American visual artist. He has had solo exhibitions in the US, including Two with the New York gallery Mitchell-Innes & Nash. He has displayed his work extensively in…
