Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Martin Kersels. It dates from 2001 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2001, this work is a colored‑pencil drawing on paper that measures a modest size and is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The artist, Martin Kersels, is an American born in 1960 who works across sculpture, photography and video, and teaches sculpture at Yale.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a vertical antenna rising from a base, its four elongated arms extending outward. Two smaller rectangular elements attach to the pole, and the structure is positioned before a simple building with a chimney. The stark white forms contrast with a dark brown background, suggesting a minimalist study of industrial geometry.
Technique & Style
Executed with colored pencil, the drawing relies on clean, linear strokes for the antenna and building, while the surrounding space is rendered with layered pencil shading. The limited palette and restrained detail emphasize form over surface texture, creating a quiet, elegant visual language.
History & Provenance
The piece entered MoMA’s collection shortly after its completion, becoming one of the few works by Kersels represented in a major institutional setting at that time. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in contemporary drawing practices of the early 2000s.
Context
Kersels’s practice often explores the relationship between objects and space, frequently employing everyday industrial components. This drawing aligns with his broader body of work that interrogates how simple structures can generate visual tension within a minimal setting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Kersels (born 1960) is an American contemporary artist. Kersels' work is largely installation based, incorporating sculpture, photography and video. Kersels is a professor of sculpture and director of graduate…
