Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a gouache drawing by Laylah Ali. It dates from 2003 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 2003, this gouache and pencil drawing presents two abstract, block‑like forms set against a pale blue background.
About this work
Overview
The composition is rendered in flat color fields and crisp outlines, giving it a deliberately simplified, almost cartoonish appearance.
Created in 2003, this gouache and pencil drawing presents two abstract, block‑like forms set against a pale blue background. The left figure resembles a rounded dome topped with two black protrusions, one bearing a flag, the other suggesting a brush or broom, while the right figure is a tall, pointed tower crowned with a flag and punctuated by small circular marks. The composition is rendered in flat color fields and crisp outlines, giving it a deliberately simplified, almost cartoonish appearance.
Subject & Meaning
The work continues the artist’s interest in ambiguous narratives, using stylized, non‑representational shapes to hint at social structures and power dynamics. The flags and the contrasting forms can be read as symbols of authority or identity, while the disproportionate scale and surreal placement invite viewers to consider how visual language constructs meaning in public discourse.
Technique & Style
Employing gouache, a water‑based medium that yields opaque, matte washes, alongside precise pencil lines, the artist achieves a flat, uniform surface with sharp edges. The limited palette and graphic delineation emphasize surface over depth, reinforcing the work’s schematic quality. The combination of medium allows for both vivid color blocks and fine linear detail within a single, cohesive visual field.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art shortly after its creation, becoming part of the institution’s holdings of contemporary American art. It remains attributed to the artist, who was born in 1968 and is active as a faculty member at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where she continues to explore themes of race and social interaction through a graphic visual language.
Artist & collection
Artist
Laylah Ali (born 1968) is an American contemporary visual artist. She is known for paintings in which ambiguous race relations are depicted with a graphic clarity and cartoon strip format. She lives in Williamstown,…
