The Pop Artist & Sculptor, the Torchbearer - Claes Oldenburg

Claes Oldenburg was born on January 28, 1929 in Stockholm, Sweden. His family moved to New York in 1936 to settle eventually at Chicago. From 1946 to 1950, he studied literature and art history at the Yale University. Claes' artistic inclinations bore fruit under the able guidance of Paul Weighdart at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he spent four productive years, from 1950 to 1954.

Oldenburg's first stint as an artist was at his own studio. Here Claus made illustrations for magazines and did easel paintings. He made his first sale of his artworks at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago. In 1956, Oldenberg moved back to the New York City, where he met eminent artists such as Jim Dine, Red Grooms, and Alan Kaprow. These new friends of Claus' played a major role in shaping his artistic career. His work was a showcase of the environment and the happenings of the New York City during that period. In 1960s, he emerged as a prominent figure in the field of Pop Art. In 1961, Oldenburg opened "The Store" in his studio. Here, Claes displayed the plastered sculptures of common objects.

In 1967, he completed 'Placid Civic Monument,' which was his first outdoor assignment in New York. He had become so comfortable with this genre of large-scale sculpture that he went on to create a few more masterpieces in several other cities. One of Claes' well-known projects is the "Lipstick on Caterpillar Tracks," which was completed in 1969 and is installed at the Yale University.

Oldenburg's other large-scale projects were made in collaboration with Coosje Van Bruggen, a Dutch/American sculptor, whom he married in 1977. Claes Oldenburg and Van Bruggen were very successful in bridging the gap between architecture and sculpture. The results of this bonding can be seen in their architectural projects such as the Chiat/Day Advertising Agency in Los Angeles and Free Stamp in Ohio.

Oldenburg has held a number of exhibitions and the performances of his works. In 1985, for a play in Venice, he made the Knife Ship, which was a giant Swiss army knife with oars. For the play, this ship was set afloat, paving the way for a smooth blending of art, architecture, and theatre. Claus has risen to international acclaim today because of his sheer determination to bring art to the common man. He did it triumphantly by transforming mundane, common objects into whimsical structures, thereby redefining art.

Source : Ezinearticles