James Rosenquist died Friday at age 83. He was the founder and the leading pioneer of the pop art culture. The famed pop art artist started out as a sign painter in New York City several decades ago. However, while his main trade was painting he worked on abstract pieces after work and during his spare time.
Rosenquist receives credit for the giant size in-your-face style of advertising that is seen on billboards throughout the United States and other countries. The movement founded by him married giant advertising with the fine art world.His work in graphics also received favorable comparison with those of famous painters and artists like Roy Lichenstein and Andy Warhol, whose work received raving reviews during the heyday of the pop art culture of the 1960’s.
Rosenquist's pieces displayed in several museums
Most of Rosenquist popular art pieces highlights the focus he placed particularly on paintings he did for billboard signs. Many of his pieces can be seen plastered throughout Time Square. And according to the New York Times, some of his creations can be seen in Brooklyn, mostly showcasing the Hebrew National sign.
The famed artist has pieces of his work displayed at some of the most prestigious museums in the United States of America and Canada. Most recently his art collection is displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan after it was purchased by renowned art collector Robert Scull.
Chronicles of his work throughout his picturesque career were displayed at the Guggenheim in 2003 and earlier in 1985 at the Denver Art Museum.
However, his accolades date back to 1968 when his collection was shown at the National Gallery of Canada in 1968 and a few years later in 1972 at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
James Rosenquist spoke the language of paint
Mimi Thompson, his wife confirmed Rosenquist’s death to the New York Times. The artist was ill for a long time before he died at his home on Friday.
In describing his creativity, Marvin Ross Friedman his close friend and avid art collector said the artist was a poet, who spoke the language of paint.
Friedman further went on to praise Rosenquist as a man who took images from the prism of his mind and paints wonderful pictures that will last for many generations.
