Claes Oldenburg

Born in 1929 in Stockholm, Sweden, but quickly moved to America where he became well-known for his soft sculptures. 
He attended School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Yale.

At the time, plaster was not suited for the task Oldenburg had in mind. It was too fragile and too heavy. To solve the problem, he created sculptures of fabric. He used to design them, and his wife, whose was a very talented seamstress used to sew them. They used to fill them with foam, but after a while, because they were so big Oldenburg started filling them with boxes. After this, Oldenburg used to paint them in colour.

His wife sewing together the giant burger

  

The inside of a soft sculptor filled with foam

He decided he would make his sculptures bigger then normal when he saw luxury cars and grand pianos in mid-town showrooms. He thought that people would love to see sculptures as big as cars and pianos, that they could touch and feel their softness. 

He used to inspire himself from everyday objects he saw on the way to work. His work was simple, yet made a statement, and the colossal scale infused humor. He created an alternate form of sculpture by challenging the rigid and austere composition of the sculpture. 

Floor Burger. 1962

French Fries and ketchup, 1963

Giant toilet, 1963

BLT sandwich, 1963

After a while Oldenburg started using harder materials, such as plaster to exhibit outdoors as well.

Apple Core


Shuttlecock



typewriter erasor

Oldenburg was also an artist. This "red tights with fragment" was soaked in plaster over wire frame, and was later painted with enamel. The artist said that this relief is his "vision of a pair of teenage tights seen in the wind at the corner of Avenue A and 14th Street". He refers to the displays of merchandise and also a torn advertisement.

Interesting video of Claes Oldenburg talking about his soft sculpture, inspiration etc.: http://www.moma.org/explore/multimedia/audios/357/4839

(2014). Flag to Fold in the Pocket. Available: http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A4397&page_number=5&template_id=1&sort_order=1. Last accessed 20th december 2013.

(2006). Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks.Available: http://www.yale.edu/publicart/lipstick.html. Last accessed 20th december 2013.