Drawing for Shelf Life

Details

JAMES ROSENQUIST (1933-2017)
Drawing for Shelf Life
titled 'drawing for Shelf Life' (lower left); signed and dated 'James Rosenquist 1972' (lower right)
acrylic, graphite and charcoal on paper
41 ¾ x 30 in. (106 x 76.2 cm.)
Executed in 1972.

Provenance

Leo Castelli Gallery, New York
Mr. and Mrs. Bagley Wright, Seattle
Their sale; Christie's, New York, 12 May 2005, lot 255
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

Exhibited

New York, Leo Castelli Gallery, James Rosenquist, May-June 1973.
Schleswig Holsteiniche Landesmuseen, Schloss Gottdorf, Fixsterne: 100 jahre kunst auf papier von Adolph Menzel bis Kiki Smith, May-September 2009.
Oberstdorf, Kunsthaus Villa Jauss, Wunder auf Papier - über 100 Jahre Zeichenkunst, July-October 2010.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Rachael White Young Vice President, Senior Specialist, Head of Core Market Sales

RRWhite@christies.com +1 917 689 5137

Lot Essay

The present drawing is a study for a sculpture of the same name, which Rosenquist completed in 1972. "Shelf Life is a metaphor," Rosenquist says. "It's about trying new things. Paint gets stale on the shelf; so do ideas and plans. It was an elaborate joke. You could only get paint on this canvas by opening and closing the door" (J. Rosenquist, quoted in James Rosenquist, exh. cat., Denver Art Museum, 1985, p. 53).

Drawing for Shelf Life

Brought to you by

Lot Essay

More from Post-War & Contemporary Art Day Sale