Untitled (2007) by David Hammons is a conceptual and found-object artwork that consists of a luxurious fox fur coat defaced with spray paint. This piece is a striking example of Hammons’ ongoing critique of race, class, and the art market.

The coat, a symbol of wealth and status, is disrupted by the crude application of spray paint, evoking themes of urban graffiti, vandalism, and resistance. Hammons has long used found materials to challenge societal norms and expectations, particularly within the art world. Here, the juxtaposition of opulence and defacement can be read as a commentary on privilege, exclusion, and the subversion of material value.

This work fits into Hammons‘ broader practice of re-contextualizing everyday objects to critique racial and economic structures, much like his famous Higher Goals (1986) or Bliz-aard Ball Sale (1983).

Photographed in the Marciano Art Foundation in Los Angeles.