I # -*-'- ,: >ss;«!«!«:»•:•:•:•:•: •••••• » - ••••••••••••# fi I»Z»Z , Z»Z»Z» m AMER1CANP0PIC0NS Guggenheim Hermitage museum Published on the occasion of the exhibition Design: Cassey L. Chou, with Marcia Fardella and American Pop Icons Christine Sullivan Guggenheim Hermitage Museum. Las Vegas Production: Tracy L. Hennige May15-November2,2003 Editorial: Meghan Dailey, Laura Morris Organized by Susan Davidson Printed in Germany by Cantz American Pop Icons © 2003 The Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation, Front cover (detail) and back cover: New York. All rights reserved. Roy Lichtenstein, Preparedness, 1968 (plate 16) Copyright notices for works of art reproduced in this book: © 2003 Jim Dine; © 2003 Jasper Johns/Licensed by VAGA, New York; © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein; © 2003 Claes Oldenburg; © 2003 Robert Rauschenberg/Licensed by VAGA. New York; © 2003 James Rosenquist/Licensed by VAGA, New York; © 2003 Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; © 2003 Tom Wesselmann/Licensed by VAGA, New York. Entries by Rachel Haidu are reprinted with permission from From Pop to Now: Selections from the Sonnabend Collection (The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College, 2002). Entries by Jennifer Blessing and Nancy Spector are reprinted from Guggenheim Museum Collection: A to Z (Guggenheim Museum, 2001); Artist's Biographies (except Tom Wesselmann) are reprinted from Rendezvous: Masterpieces from the Centre Georges Pompidou and the Guggenheim Museums (Guggenheim Museum, 1998). isbn 0-89207-296-2 (hardcover) isbn 0-89207-296-0 (softcover) Guggenheim Museum Publications 1071 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10128 Guggenheim Hermitage Museum 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 www.guggenheimlasvegas.org Contents 7 Directors Statement Thomas Krens 8 Preface/Acknowledgments Susan Davidson 10 Shaping Pop: From Objects to Icons at the Guggenheim Susan Davidson 22 Plates 86 Biographies and Catalogue Entries 127 Selected Readings Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Metropolitan New York Library Council - METRO http://archive.org/details/popiconsOOgugg HONORARY TRUSTEES IN PERPETUITY TRUSTEES Solomon R. Guggenheim Jon Imanol Azua Justin K.Thannhauser Peter M Brant Peggy Guggenheim Mary Sharp Cronson Gail May Engelberg HONORARY CHAIRMAN Daniel Fihpacchi Peter Lawson-Johnston Martin D. Gruss Frederick B Henry CHAIRMAN David H. Koch Peter B. Lewis Thomas Krens Peter Lawson-Johnston VICE-PRESIDENTS Peter Lawson-Johnston II Wendy L-J. McNeil Peter B. Lewis Stephen C. Swid Howard W. Lutnick John S. Wadsworth, Jr. William L Mack Wendy L-J. McNeil DIRECTOR Edward H. Meyer Thomas Krens Vladimir 0. Potanin Frederick W Reid Mortimer D. A. Sackler SECRETARY AND TREASURER Denise Saul Edward F. Rover Terry Semel R. The Solomon B. Sherwood HONORARY TRUSTEE James Raja Guggenheim Foundation Claude Pompidou W Sidawi Seymour Slive Jennifer Blei Stockman TRUSTEES EX OFFICIO Stephen C Swid Dakis Joannou John Wadsworth Jr David Gallagher S Mark R Walter John Wilmerding DIRECTOR EMERITUS Thomas M.Messer American Pop Icons is the third exhibition and from Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup to be presented in Las Vegas at the Cans to Roy Lichtenstein's oversized comic- Guggenheim Hermitage Museum as part of strip inspired canvases, the works shown an ongoing collaboration between two of the here represent a key moment in American art world's leading cultural institutions. Drawing history in which artists turned away from the from and expanding on the rich holdings of painterly concerns of Abstract Expressionism diverse collections with the aim of making toward an engagement with the culture that them accessible to a wider audience, the surrounded them Internationally the focus Guggenheim Hermitage Museum continues of the art world at this time was very much to organize significant exhibitions, promoting on America. In many ways, the artists' works scholarly research that extends the scope of reflect this, revealing the nature of art- public awareness through its presentations making in an all-encompassing consumer and publications. culture of the time. Inaugurated in 2001, the "jewel-box" Thomas Krens exhibition space within the Venetian Resort- Director. The Solomon R Guggenheim Hotel-Casino was designed by internationally Foundation recognized architect Rem Koolhaas and has proven to be a unique and versatile contemporary space in which to showcase artworks from very different time periods. Following two exhibitions of European Director's Statement masterpieces ranging from the Renaissance and Baroque periods to the early twentieth century from the collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. New York, the Hermitage State Museum, St. Petersburg, and the Kunsthistorisches, Vienna, the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum now presents an exhibition of paintings and sculpture by American Pop artists, expanding on the strong collection of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. American Pop Icons includes seminal works by some of the twentieth century's most celebrated artists. From Robert Rauschenberg's Combine paintings to Jasper Johns's Flags, — Numerous individuals and institutions have Sylvia Sleigh, Lawrence Alloway's widow and ottered their assistance to the creation ot herself a renowned portrait painter, and this exhibition. On behalt ot the Solomon her archivist, Hephsie Loeb, graciously R. Guggenheim Foundation and the opened the Lawrence Alloway archive for my Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, I would review. Access to important archival like to extend our deepest gratitude to the documentation from the Six Painters and lenders. Their participation is critical to the the Object exhibition has been provided by success ot any exhibition and made even Lynn Underwood, Director of Information more difficult when the artworks involved Integration and Management at the are so iconic to the history of twentieth- Guggenheim. At the Menil Collection, century art. Ileana Sonnabend and Antonio Houston, my former colleagues, Geraldine Homem of the Sonnabend Collection Aramanda, Aichivist; Phil Heagy, Librarian; enthusiastically embraced the concept for and Mary Kadish, Assistant Registrar, fielded this exhibition from its inception and their numerous research queries. Walter Hopps loans serve as a cornerstone of this first informed my understanding of Pop art, exhibition. Artists Jasper Johns and James while Don Quaintance, Julia Blaut, and Rosenquist have each supported the Simonetta Fraquelli each in their own way exhibition with loans of their artwork from continue to extend my research. Woodfin their private collections; their individual Camp, who represents photographer Ken engagement is a credit to their ongoing Heyman, readily made available photographs interest in the history of Pop art. Jose of the period while Kim Bush, Photography Berardo, Bernard Jacobson, Torsten Lilja, and Permissions Manager at the Preface and and several anonymous lenders have each Guggenheim, provided images of the Acknowledgments allowed key artworks from their collection artworks in the Guggenheim's collection. to join the fabric of the exhibition. My curatorial colleagues at the Guggenheim For assistance in obtaining loans, I have Sarah Bancroft, Tracey Bashkoff, Jennifer relied on the considerable knowledge and Blessing, Nancy Spector, Kara Vander Weg, good will of a select group of colleagues in and Joan Young— have contributed insightful the trade: Paul Gray of the Richard Gray entries on the artworks in the exhibition. I Gallery, Chicago and New York; James Mayor am most appreciative of their dedication and of the Mayor Gallery, London; Bob Monk; camaraderie in producing this material in Edward Nahem of Edward Nahem Fine Art, such a timely manner. Charles Stainback, New York; and Jennifer Vorbach of C & M Director of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Arts, New York. Each has offered their trust Museum and Art Gallery generously agreed and cooperation for which I am most to allow texts written by Rachal Haidu for his grateful. Additional assistance in securing recent touring exhibition From Pop to Now: important loans has been capably provided Selections from the Sonnabend Collection by Isabel Soares Alves, Laura Bloom, Ann to be reprinted here. Carley, Beverly Coe, Michael Harrigan, The spirited engagement of the entire staff Robert Hollister, Lynn Kearcher, Josey Kraft, at the Guggenheim Museum has assured Esty Neuman, Xan Price, Sarah Taggart, the successful realization of this exhibition. and Christine Zehner. Thomas Krens, Director; Lisa Dennison, Deputy Director and Chief Curator; Marc in Las Vegas seamlessly moved and Steglitz. Deputy Director for Finance and installed them and Mary Ann Hoag. Lighting Operations; and Anthony Calnek. Deputy Designer, has carefully lit them. Numerous Director for Communications and Publishing other individuals in various departments have guided every aspect of this exhibition throughout the museum have offered their and I am most grateful for their support expertise In particular. I would like to thank and continued encouragement. The gifted in New York Hannah Blumenthal. Financial and dedicated staff of art professionals at Analyst for Museum Affiliates Oliver Dettler, the museum have greatly contributed to a Special Projects, Art Director; Betsy Ennis. smooth undertaking of this project. In Director of Public Affairs: Pepi Marchetti particular, I would like to thank Laurel Franchi, Executive Associate to the Director; MacMillan, H i Ma Rebay International Kendall