Yesterday was Jeff Koons’ birthday, so the contemporary artist has been on our minds a little bit this weekend. Though critics are split on his work, we usually count ourselves fans, being generally fond of anything huge, fun and shiny, like Koons’ famous balloon dogs. We also enjoy the fact that Koons makes serious art that references children’s toys, and we got to thinking about some of the other artists around the world that do the same — whether they just incorporate the playthings into their work or create objects that could be used as enormous toys themselves. Click through to check out ten of our favorite artworks that were either inspired by, made out of, or crafted to resemble children’s toys, and do let us know if we’ve left off any of your favorite artistic playthings in the comments!
Controversial, thoughtful, hilarious. Italian-born, New York-based artist Maurizio Cattelan, known for his hyper-realistic sculpture pranks and generally stirring things up, is currently showing all of his work in a new “anti-retrospective” at the Guggenheim. No, really, it’s basically all there. Maurizio Cattelan: All features more than 130 of his provocative works hanging in the middle of the Wright-designed rotunda, tied up into a giant, swinging heap. If you get a chance, you should take a closer look in person before January 22. In the meantime, here are our favorite pieces created by the purportedly retiring artist — from the pathetic Hitler to the meteorite-stricken Pope to the trophy of a trophy wife. See some of Cattelan’s best pranks in our gallery. Read More »
Back in 2003, when he was still madly in love with his model/actress wife Stephanie Seymour, newspaper tycoon Peter Brant commissioned controversial Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan (he of recent middle finger fame) to make a nude bust of her. But because Cattelan believes in sharing (or more likely, can’t resist a good f-you gesture), he decided to make three. And then Seymour and Brant hit quite the rough patch. Ironically, now that they’ve decided not to get divorced, one of the editions is up for sale at Phillips de Pury, and Seymour’s bust is on the cover of the art sale catalogue. According to the Daily News, it’s estimated that the artwork (which we personally find super creepy) will fetch more than $1.5 million. Trophy wife, indeed. [via ANIMAL]
Controversial Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan is infamous for his sculptural portrayals of Pope John Paul II being felled by a meteorite and a childlike Hitler kneeling and praying, as well as a performance piece at the Museum of Modern Art, where he hadan actor don a giant Picasso head and engage visitors. Although it’s been seven years since the 50-year-old Pop-conceptualist has had a solo show in America, Cattelan has been busy in Europe, as witnessed by the survey show of recent works at the Menil Collection in Houston. Integrated by the artist into the museum’s collection of medieval and modernist works, the show presents a dialogue between the present and the past that ironically comments on religion, politics, and art history.
As Andy Warhol famously declared, “Good business is the best art.” Taking Warhol and his maxim as its point of departure, Pop Life: Art in a Material World presents a selection of international artists who have followed in his footsteps. Organized by London’s Tate Modern and co-curated by Artforum editor-at-large Jack Bankowsky, François Pinault Collection curator Alison Gingeras, and Tate Modern curator Catherine Wood, Pop Life explores the relationship between art, commerce, and celebrity in the post-Pop era.
What works did international art dealers, curators and collectors consider the most impressive at the 53rd Venice Biennale? It was surprising how consistently the same names came up. The US Pavilion (images here) ranked high, even before it was voted best pavilion of this year. And Elmgreen & Dragset’s “The Collectors” (images here) was another favorite. And everyone was impressed with Francois Pinault’s Punta della Dogana (images here). Read More »
The artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset originated one of the most winning ideas of the Venice Biennale: The Collectors. The talk of the town among critics and curators, the project has contributions by 24 international artists and artists groups, along with some classic pieces of Scandinavian modern furniture, and earned Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset a special mention from the Biennale jury of the 53rd International Art Exhibition. Presented in the Danish and Nordic pavilions, which represents a first-time collaboration between Denmark and Norway and the first joint venture of two national pavilions in the Biennale, the exhibition transforms the neighboring, Modernist-style buildings into domestic settings, where the spectator becomes a voyeur to the private lives of the inhabitants. Read More »
