Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a wood painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Lari Pittman. It dates from 2013 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2013, this untitled work by Lari Pittman is an abstract composition assembled in four adjoining panels. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and presents a densely layered visual field that merges bright color fields with fragmented figurative elements.
Subject & Meaning
Across the four sections, rounded portrait-like forms emerge amid a chaotic backdrop of intersecting lines and geometric shapes. The faces, some rendered with blurred features and exaggerated hair, suggest a tension between individuality and anonymity, inviting viewers to contemplate identity within a crowded visual environment.
Technique & Style
The artist employed cel‑vinyl and spray enamel applied to canvas stretched over a wood panel, producing a textured surface that feels both glossy and rough. Layered applications create a sense of depth, while the vivid palette of greens, yellows, and browns, combined with sharp linear motifs, underscores the work’s dynamic, collage-like aesthetic.
History & Provenance
After its completion in 2013, the painting entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s ongoing interest in contemporary abstract practices that incorporate unconventional materials and complex visual narratives.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lari George Pittman is a Colombian-American contemporary artist and painter. Pittman is an Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Painting and Drawing at the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.
