Claes Oldenburg was an American sculptor best known for his contributions to pop art, particularly his large outdoor installations. He created iconic pieces like a giant clothespin in Philadelphia, a massive baseball bat in Chicago, and an enormous flashlight in Las Vegas.
Personal and Family Life
Claes Oldenburg was born on January 28, 1929, in Stockholm, Sweden, and moved to Chicago with his family in 1936. He was married to Coosje van Bruggen from 1977 until her death in 2009, and he was also previously married to Patty Mucha from 1960 to 1970. Oldenburg had a sibling named Richard and was the son of Gösta Oldenburg and Sigrid Lindforss.
Career
Oldenburg studied literature and art at Yale University before becoming a significant figure in the pop art movement. He initially worked as a reporter in Chicago while taking art classes at night, eventually gaining fame for his unique artistic style and monumental sculptures that merged everyday objects with fine art.
Death and Legacy
Claes Oldenburg passed away on July 18, 2022, in Manhattan, New York City, although the specific cause of death was not disclosed. He left behind a lasting legacy as a pioneer of pop art, and his works continue to inspire and influence artists around the world. Oldenburg was also awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 2000, highlighting his impact on the art community.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Sort of a Commercial for an Icebag | 1970-12-31 | Himself |
| Fotodeath | 1961-12-31 | |
| Heads | 1969-12-19 | Self |
| The Great Ice-Cream Robbery | 1971-08-25 | |
| Manhattan Mouse Museum | 2011-01-01 | Himself |
| Poem Posters | 1967-05-19 | Self |
| Scarface and Aphrodite | 1963-12-28 | |
| Nekropolis I | 1963-12-30 | |
| Voyages II | 1963-12-27 | |
| Who Gets to Call It Art? | 2006-02-01 | Himself (archive footage) |
| Art of the Sixties | 1967-01-01 | |
| Pat’s Birthday | 1962-01-01 | |
| Roy Lichtenstein | 1975-01-01 | Self |
| Claes Oldenburg: The Formative Years | 1975-01-01 | |
| The Shock of the New | 1980-09-21 | |
| Tarzan and Jane Regained… Sort of | 1964-02-18 | |
| Hannah’s Haircut | 1975-01-01 | |
| Grettur | 1967-01-01 | |
| Ein Schlips steht Kopf | 1995-10-01 | Self |