A key figure in Pop Art, Claes Oldenburg became known for his “soft” sculptures in kapok-stuffed vinyl, depicting ordinary objects (hamburgers, sinks, eggbeaters) larger than life. He also attracted attention for his monumental sculptures of giant lipsticks, clothespins and garden trowels, among other items. Starting in the mid-1970s, he began collaborating with his wife, Coosje van Bruggen. They shared a house and studio from 1976 until Van Bruggen’s death in 2009. The 100 objects in this show represent the maquettes for various projects that the two artists kept for themselves. And like the larger works, they are representations of ordinary objects that speak to the poetry of the everyday.
Thanksgiving is on the way, but before you start to plan your trip over the river and through the woods, perhaps you should consider feasting on this menu of must-see art shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum and Museum of Modern Art, along with other offerings in art galleries around the city.