Jasper Johns

Jasper Johns

Jasper Johns is an American painter, sculptor and printmaker associated with Abstract expressionism, Neo-Dada, and Pop art according to Wikipedia. He was influenced by Robert Rauschenberg, Pablo Picasso, and many others. 

Sculptures

"The Critic Smiles" (1959)

What's outstanding about this sculpture was that instead of sculpting the bristles on the toothbrush, John sculpted teeth. 

"The Critic Sees" (1961)

This sculpture surprised me. At first glance you just see a pair of glasses but at a closer inspection you see mouth for eyes. The critic sees through their mouth. 

You can already tell by looking at these sculptures that John didn't liked people criticizing his art without fully understanding the story behind it.  

"Light Bulb" (1960)

All I can say about this sculpture is that it seemed that John wanted or had new ideas, thoughts or inspiration. 

"Flash Light 1" (1958)

"Painted Bronze" (1960)

Fun Fact

"He never became, in historical terms, a mainstream artist, never joined the parade that sprang up after him in the early 1960s. He didn’t align his work with either Pop Art or Minimalism. And he certainly didn’t join any of the clubs associated with a style, technique or subject. Instead he went his own way and, more to the point, he exposed what he thought of critics in two sculptural objects, “The Critic Smiles” (1959), a well-known work depicting a toothbrush with human teeth instead of bristles, which is included in the exhibition at Craig F. Starr, and “The Critic Sees” (1961), which replaces the critic’s bespectacled eyes with a pair of mouths"- hyperallergic.com

"Sometimes I see it then paint it. Other times I paint it then see it...At every point in nature there is something to see."

-Jasper Johns

I like this quote from him. Describes me in terms when it comes to art. 

Assemblage

Assemblage Art

Assemblage is an artistic form or medium usually created on a defined substrate that consists of three-dimensional elements projecting out of or from the substrate. It is similar to collage, a two-dimensional medium--according to Wikipedia.

Artists Who Use Assemblage In Their Art

Jim Dine

Jim Dine is an American artist and poet known for his roles in both the formation of Conceptual Art “Happenings” and Pop Art.

Bedspring. 1960. Assemblage of oil, metallic paint, candles, metal candle holders, paper, corrugated cardboard, canvas, newsprint, waxed paper,

This assemblage makes me laugh for some reason. It's probably that face there, staring at you creepily. 

Robert Rauschenberg

Milton Ernest "Robert" Rauschenberg was an American painter and graphic artist whose early works anticipated the pop art movement. Rauschenberg is well known for his "Combines" of the 1950s, in which non-traditional materials and objects were employed in innovative combinations according to Wikipedia.

Canyon (1959)

The title of this assemblage says it all. It reminds me of a canyon. 

Kurt Schwitters

Kurt Schwitters was born in Germany in 1887. Originally concentrating on painting and poetry, he began experimenting with collages and assemblages.

Merzbild Rossfett (1919)

In my opinion this assemblage reminds me of an abandoned house or house that has been raided. It's sad now that you think of it. 

Niki de Saint Phalle

Niki de Saint Phalle was a French sculptor, painter, and filmmaker.

La Hachoir (1960)

This assemblage looks like someone is about to bake something. A person that comes to my mind is a housewife.

Portrait of My Lover (1961)

Interesting. I'm not sure if she hates her lover for leaving her because of the target for a head. This assemblage shows many emotions towards the lover of hers.