Inverted Fireplug as Skyscraper

Whimsical sculpture of pop culture objects, many of them large and out-of-doors, is the signature work of Swedish-born Claes Oldenburg who became one... more

by Claes Oldenburg

Buy the Original Mixed Media

Price

$3,000

Dimensions

24.750 x 37.750 x 1.500 inches

Title

Inverted Fireplug as Skyscraper

Artist

Claes Oldenburg

Medium

Mixed Media - Limited Edition Color Offset Lithograph 4/100

Description

Whimsical sculpture of pop culture objects, many of them large and out-of-doors, is the signature work of Swedish-born Claes Oldenburg who became one of America's leading Pop Artists. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden. His father was a diplomat, and during Claes' childhood moved his family from Stockholm to a variety of locations including Chicago where the father was general consul of Sweden and where Oldenburg spent most of his childhood. He attended the Latin School of Chicago, and then Yale University where he studied literature and art history, graduating in 1950, the same year Claes became an American citizen.
Returning to Chicago, he enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1952 to 1954 and also worked as a reporter at the City News Bureau. He opened his own studio, and in 1953, some of his satirical drawings were included in his first group show at the Club St. Elmo, Chicago. He also painted at the Oxbow School of Painting in Michigan.
In 1956, he moved to New York where he drew and painted while working as a clerk in the art libraries of Cooper-Union Museum for the Arts of Decoration. Selling his first artworks during this time, he earned 25 dollars for five pieces. This is a limited edition lithograph which is hand signed on the lower left and numbered 4/100 on the lower right. The English refer to a fire hydrant as a fireplug and so come the name of this piece. It measures 37 3/4 × 24 3/4 in or 95.9 × 62.9 cm. For more information or to arrange an in person viewing call Richard Beau Lieu at 561-736-8181 or email: beaulieustudios@aol.com

Uploaded

February 15th, 2017