contemporary objects
Armand Pierre Fernandez, widely known by his mononym Arman, was a French-born American artist celebrated for his innovative contributions to the Nouveau Réalisme movement and his radical use of everyday objects in art. Born in Nice, France, on November 17, 1928, Arman's early exposure to art came from his father, an antiques dealer and amateur artist, which deeply influenced his later artistic endeavors.
Arman moved beyond traditional painting techniques early in his career, instead creating his signature "Accumulations" and "Poubelles" (trash) sculptures. These works involved assembling and compacting everyday items like watches, clocks, and even automobiles, embedding these objects in layers of concrete or encasing them in Plexiglas. One of his most notable large-scale works is "Long Term Parking," a 60-foot high sculpture made of concrete-encased cars, situated in Jouy-en-Josas, France.
His work is an essential bridge between European and American trends in Pop art and has been widely exhibited in major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Gallery in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Arman's innovative techniques and philosophical approach to materials challenged conventional categorizations of art and inspired future generations of artists.
For collectors and enthusiasts interested in staying updated on exhibitions and sales related to Arman's work, signing up for updates can provide essential insights and opportunities related to this influential artist. Join our community to ensure you don't miss out on new discoveries and auction events associated with Arman's legacy.
Jeffrey Lynn Koons is an American artist recognized for his work dealing with popular culture and his sculptures depicting everyday objects, including balloon animals produced in stainless steel with mirror-finish surfaces. He lives and works in both New York City and his hometown of York, Pennsylvania. His works have sold for substantial sums, including at least two record auction prices for a work by a living artist: US$58.4 million for Balloon Dog (Orange) in 2013 and US$91.1 million for Rabbit in 2019.
Critics are sharply divided in their views of Koons. Some view his work as pioneering and of major art-historical importance. Others dismiss his work as kitsch, crass, and based on cynical self-merchandising. Koons has stated that there are no hidden meanings and critiques in his works.
Dana Wyse is a Canadian writer and visual artist.
Wyse’s early career was characterized by photography works exploring Canada and its history and environment. Photography works by Wyse can be seen in the book Vancouver: A History in Photographs. In 1996, Wyse began her best known artwork, a pill-themed installation called Jesus Had A Sister Productions. It is a work-in-progress to which the artist adds new elements each year and that crosses the line between art and business.
Man Ray, born Emmanuel Radnitzky, was an American visual artist who played a significant role in the Dada and Surrealist movements. His pioneering efforts in photography, alongside his work in painting and sculpture, have cemented his place as a major figure in modern art. Known for his innovative techniques and the ability to convey complex ideas through simple, striking visuals, Man Ray's contribution to the art world is profound.
Throughout his career, Man Ray was celebrated for his avant-garde approach and his ability to transcend traditional boundaries between different artistic mediums. His photography, characterized by experimental techniques such as solarization and rayographs (cameraless photographs), challenged conventional perceptions of photography as merely a means of representation. These artistic innovations made him a central figure in both Parisian and American art circles.
Man Ray's works are housed in some of the world's most prestigious museums and galleries, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. His pieces, such as "Le Violon d'Ingres" and "Noire et Blanche," are iconic images that continue to influence artists today. His ability to blend the abstract with the realistic, and the humorous with the serious, has left a lasting legacy in the world of art.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, the work of Man Ray offers a glimpse into the revolutionary changes that shaped the visual arts in the 20th century. His unique perspective and pioneering techniques continue to inspire and challenge those interested in the boundaries of creativity and expression.
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Horace Clifford (Cliff) Westermann was an American sculptor and printmaker. His sculptures frequently incorporated traditional carpentry and marquetry techniques. From the late 1950s until his death in 1981, Westermann worked with a number of materials and formal devices to address a range of personal, literary, artistic, and pop-cultural references. The artist's sculptural oeuvre is distinguished by its intricate craftsmanship, in which wood, metal, glass, and other materials are laboriously hand-tooled, and by its ability to convey an offbeat, often humorous, individualistic sensibility.
Westermann's sculptures reveal not only the influence of craft traditions, but also of varied art historical precedents. The artist's ability to convey subtle and uncanny effects through the presentation of seemingly simple objects has often led critics to compare his work to that of Surrealist-inspired artists such as Joseph Cornell. However, Westermann's work encompasses elements from a broad and diverse range of artistic practices, including Assemblage, Dada, and Folk Art. His sculptures, moreover, point to minimal and post-minimal art of the late 1960s and beyond, in terms of their rigorous craftsmanship, formal sophistication, unconventional use of materials, and sense of humor.
Bertrand Lavier is a French conceptual artist, painter and sculptor, belonging to the post-readymade era, inspired by the Duchampian legacy and the Nouveau réalisme, the artistic movement created by the art critic Pierre Restany in 1960. Lavier studied at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Horticulture in Versailles, France in 1968-1971.
Mary Weatherford is an American artist known for her large paintings using neon lights. Her work is represented in various museums and contemporary art galleries.
