Biography of Claes Oldenburg
Since the 1960s renowned artist Claes Oldenburg has been at the forefront of the Conceptual and Pop Art movements. His oversized sculptures are instantly recognizable and have inspired countless artists. Born in 1929 in Sweden, Oldenburg spent much of his adolescence in the US, before moving permanently to New York in 1956. Oldenburg participated in the array of happenings (performances) that began to take place in New York in the late 50s. Using familiar, everyday objects as his recurring form, the artist developed his soft sculptures idea in 1957—a practice he would return to throughout his career. By the late 60s he was fabricating enormous sculptures for civic monuments. Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks, 1969-74 is a prime example of this and was made in conjunction with his long-term collaborator and wife, Coosje van Bruggen.
Claes Oldenburg has said himself that "If I didn't think what I was doing had something to do with enlarging the boundaries of art, I wouldn't go on doing it." Indeed, Oldenburg's work is more than the Pop Art fascination with merging of high art with the commercial; his large-scale pieces in particular are a critique of capitalism and American consumer culture. Oldenburg has exhibited extensively around the world and his work appears in the collection of almost every major international art museum. To possess an edition or multiple from this great artist is a unique opportunity.
