Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Titus Kaphar. It dates from 2019 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 2019, this oil on canvas belongs to the contemporary abstract genre.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2019, this oil on canvas belongs to the contemporary abstract genre. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and reflects the artist’s ongoing interest in revisiting historical narratives through modern visual language.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts two women strolling side by side, each pushing a stroller that contains indistinct, blurred figures. Their faces are intentionally omitted, directing attention to their attire, a vivid red coat and a teal jacket with a patterned shawl, and to the intimate proximity that suggests shared experience or solidarity.
Technique & Style
Employing bold, saturated hues of pink, blue, and primary colors, the artist juxtaposes flat, simplified background shapes with more detailed, gestural figures. The oil medium allows for smooth color transitions while maintaining crisp edges on the clothing, creating a visual tension between abstraction and representational hints.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its completion, joining a broader acquisition of works by the artist, who is represented in numerous major U.S. public collections. Its provenance traces directly from the artist’s studio to the museum’s permanent collection.
Context
The piece aligns with the creator’s broader practice of reconfiguring art historical narratives to foreground African‑American subjects. By rendering the figures anonymous yet vividly dressed, the work engages contemporary discussions about visibility, identity, and the everyday lives of marginalized communities within the urban landscape.
Artist & collection
Artist
Titus Kaphar is an American contemporary painter and filmmaker whose work reconfigures and regenerates art history to include African-American subjects.
