Claes Oldenburg is known as one of today’s most original sculptor This is his wife Coosje van Bruggen - he married her in 1977 after working with her on a large-scale project.

Although he was born in Sweden, Claes Oldenburg became a U.S. citizen in 1953. He did not begin his career in art until 1953. As a member of the Pop Art movement, Oldenburg used objects from American popular culture as subjects for his sculptures. The name “Pop” was given to this movement because its artists used popular objects as subject matter in their works.

“AUTOBODYS” (1964) was a so-called “Happening” by Oldenburg, which involved automobiles, crowds of people and quantities of ice cubes in a participational art event. The crudely painted props used in these events formed the basis of much of his later sculptures.

Poster - “Two Cheeseburgers with Everything” Oldenburg’s shoestring sculpture is not very impressive until you realize that the sculpture is 9 feet tall. If you could stand beside it, the potatoes would be as tall or taller than you are and the bag would tower an additional 3 feet above you.

Typewriter eraser is described by Oldenburg, “This is a very strange, obsolete object that has a brush on one end and a rubber circle on the other end. A lot of people have no idea what it is.”

“Stake Hitch” can be seen as the Dallas Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas. Stake Hitch, 1984 Aluminum, steel and urethane foam 642 x 182 x 534 in. (1630.7 x 462.3 x 1356.4 cm) Commissioned to honor John Dabney Murchison, Sr. for his arts and civic leadership, and presented by his family, 1984.

The pretzel is sculpted out of screenprint and cardboard. This was found on the internet. You can order one for $50 US$! (Presented by Gallery Susan Inglett)

TROWEL is a large metal sculpture. This piece is in the sculpture garden of the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterloo, the Netherlands.

This sculpture is made from Cor-Ten steel and bronze. (Approx.. 5 7/8’ x 6’ 6” x 10’ 5/8” ) It was funded for Contemporary Art and is located in the Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio.

Swedish-born American Sculptor Floor Hamburger 1971

Born in the year of 1929 Birthplace is Stockholm, Sweden Father was a diplomat Pioneer of POP ART

During 1960-65, Oldenburg conducted a number of so-called “Happenings” - Autobodys (1964) 1961 Oldenburg opened a store in New York City and sold plaster replicas of hamburgers, sandwiches, sundaes, and other fast-food items. Later versions of these objects were constructed on a gigantic scale from vinyl stuffed with foam rubber.

Artwork #1 “Falling Shoestring Potatoes” 1965

Oldenburg continued to use similar soft materials, especially vinyl and canvas. He created sculptural series of objects such as bathroom fixtures, fans, and typewriters

Artwork #2 “Typewriter Eraser” 1976

Oldenburg has also worked in fiberglass and metal. He is known for his oversized sculptures of everyday objects, many of which are monumental or “enormous” in scale.

Artwork #3 “Stake Hitch” 1984

Artwork #4 “N.Y.C. Pretzel” 1994

Artwork #5 “Trowel” 1994

Artwork #6 “Three-Way Plug” 1970

Torn Notebook 1992, fabricated 1996

Free Stamp 1991

Shuttlecocks 1994

Clothespin 1976 Batcolumn 1977 Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks 1969-74

Flashlight 1981 Split Button 1981 Hat in Three Stages of Landing 1982

SPOON BRIDGE AND CHERRY 1985-1988