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Robert Therrien

September 23–October 29, 2011
Beverly Hills

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Erich Koyama

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Erich Koyama

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Erich Koyama

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Erich Koyama

Installation view Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Erich Koyama

Installation view

Artworks © Robert Therrien, photo by Erich Koyama

Installation video Play Button

Installation video

Works Exhibited

Robert Therrien, No title (Four bed loop), 2011 Steel, cotton, magnets, springs, wood, 114 × 120 × 80 inches (289.6 × 304.8 × 203.2 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Four bed loop), 2011

Steel, cotton, magnets, springs, wood, 114 × 120 × 80 inches (289.6 × 304.8 × 203.2 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Stork beak model), 1996–2011 Plastic, cotton, and steel, 47 inches × dimensions variable (119.4 cm × dimenstions variable)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Stork beak model), 1996–2011

Plastic, cotton, and steel, 47 inches × dimensions variable (119.4 cm × dimenstions variable)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Plaster beard), 1999 Plaster and metal, 51 ½ × 22 × 17 inches (130.8 × 55.9 × 43.2 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Plaster beard), 1999

Plaster and metal, 51 ½ × 22 × 17 inches (130.8 × 55.9 × 43.2 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Joyce frame), 2011 Glass, metal, printed image on acetate, 45 × 28 × 24 inches (114.3 × 71.1 × 61 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Joyce frame), 2011

Glass, metal, printed image on acetate, 45 × 28 × 24 inches (114.3 × 71.1 × 61 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Old witch hat), 1981–2011 Metal, paper, paint in glass and wood vitrine, 11 ¾ × 10 ½ × 10 ½ inches (29.8 × 26.7 × 26.7 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Old witch hat), 1981–2011

Metal, paper, paint in glass and wood vitrine, 11 ¾ × 10 ½ × 10 ½ inches (29.8 × 26.7 × 26.7 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (New witch hat), 2011 Plastic (acetal), 12 ¼ × 8 × 8 inches (31.1 × 20.3 × 20.3 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (New witch hat), 2011

Plastic (acetal), 12 ¼ × 8 × 8 inches (31.1 × 20.3 × 20.3 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Black cloud), 2011 Enamel on plastic, 17 ½ × 28 × 17 ½ inches (44.4 × 71.1 × 44.4 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Black cloud), 2011

Enamel on plastic, 17 ½ × 28 × 17 ½ inches (44.4 × 71.1 × 44.4 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Birds, bows and bells vitrine), 2010 Mixed media, Vitrine: 5 × 37 ½ × 36 ¾ inches (12.7 × 95.2 × 93.3 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Birds, bows and bells vitrine), 2010

Mixed media, Vitrine: 5 × 37 ½ × 36 ¾ inches (12.7 × 95.2 × 93.3 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Red vitrine), 1982–2011 Mixed media, Vitrine: 5 × 37 ⅜ × 37 ¼ nches (12.7 × 94.9 × 94.6 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Red vitrine), 1982–2011

Mixed media, Vitrine: 5 × 37 ⅜ × 37 ¼ nches (12.7 × 94.9 × 94.6 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Joyce templates and Joyce vitrine), 1985–2011 Mixed media, Vitrine: 8 × 84 × 39 ¼ inches (20.3 × 213.4 × 99.7 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Joyce templates and Joyce vitrine), 1985–2011

Mixed media, Vitrine: 8 × 84 × 39 ¼ inches (20.3 × 213.4 × 99.7 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Joyce templates and Joyce vitrine), 1985–2011 (detail) Mixed media, Vitrine: 8 × 84 × 39 ¼ inches (20.3 × 213.4 × 99.7 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Joyce templates and Joyce vitrine), 1985–2011 (detail)

Mixed media, Vitrine: 8 × 84 × 39 ¼ inches (20.3 × 213.4 × 99.7 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Head and body parts vitrine), 1986–2011 Mixed media, Vitrine: 7 ¼ × 31 ¾ × 37 inches (18.4 × 80.6 × 94 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Head and body parts vitrine), 1986–2011

Mixed media, Vitrine: 7 ¼ × 31 ¾ × 37 inches (18.4 × 80.6 × 94 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Snowman, cloud vitrine), 1985–2001 Copper templates, wood templates, paper, graphite on paper, acrylic on paper, Vitrine: 37 ½ × 37 ¼ × 5 inches (95.2 × 94.6 × 12.7 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Snowman, cloud vitrine), 1985–2001

Copper templates, wood templates, paper, graphite on paper, acrylic on paper, Vitrine: 37 ½ × 37 ¼ × 5 inches (95.2 × 94.6 × 12.7 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Mini stacked pots and pans IV, crème brûlée), 2005 Metal and plastic, 13 ½ × 12 × 12 inches (34.3 × 30.5 × 30.5 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Mini stacked pots and pans IV, crème brûlée), 2005

Metal and plastic, 13 ½ × 12 × 12 inches (34.3 × 30.5 × 30.5 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Five leg examples), 1993 Graphite and various paper on paper, 9 ½ × 5 ½ inches (24.1 × 14 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Five leg examples), 1993

Graphite and various paper on paper, 9 ½ × 5 ½ inches (24.1 × 14 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Under the table shots I), 1991–92 Four black and white Polaroids, 3 ½ × 4 ¼ inches each (8.9 × 10.8 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Under the table shots I), 1991–92

Four black and white Polaroids, 3 ½ × 4 ¼ inches each (8.9 × 10.8 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Drop, sawing log, BBQ, running feet), 1992–2001 Four black and white Polaroids, 3 ½ × 4 ¼ inches each (8.9 × 10.8 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Drop, sawing log, BBQ, running feet), 1992–2001

Four black and white Polaroids, 3 ½ × 4 ¼ inches each (8.9 × 10.8 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Large drop), 2001 Silver-plated brass, 11 × 5 ½ × 5 ½ inches (27.9 × 14 × 14 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Large drop), 2001

Silver-plated brass, 11 × 5 ½ × 5 ½ inches (27.9 × 14 × 14 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Pillow and teardrop), 2001 Four black and white Polaroids, 3 ½ × 4 ¼ inches each (8.9 × 10.8 cm)© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

Robert Therrien, No title (Pillow and teardrop), 2001

Four black and white Polaroids, 3 ½ × 4 ¼ inches each (8.9 × 10.8 cm)
© Robert Therrien, photo by Josh White

About

Gagosian Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of sculpture and drawings by Robert Therrien, his first in Los Angeles for more than a decade.

Therrien has clear affinities with the preceding generation of Pop and Conceptual artists, together with inspirations and direct references from folk culture, cartoons, and American design. Working in both two and three dimensions, he transforms elements from the culture of everyday life into works of art that evoke classical archetypes. His deceptively simple oeuvre lends itself to psychological interpretation, given its evident fascination with the narratives of childhood, while remaining firmly objective due to its literal proximity to the real and its relationship to the minimal.

In this exhibition, Therrien presents a scenography of meticulously crafted objects displayed on a maze of tables— a coffin, stacks of sketchbooks, an oilcan, the beak of a stork. Beards made of steel, plaster, and plastic, such as No title (Fake yellow beard) (1999), are placed on tabletops or stands where they hang from armatures, evoking comic-book disguises. The array also includes life-sized beds coiled into spirals, No title (Pink spiral bed), 2011; towering stacks of huge dinner plates (No title, 2006-07); and a large table leg extending from a corner, No title (Table leg) 2010. Collapsing the distinction between the real and the remade, sentiment and satire, these almost ordinary objects appear suspended and altered in a world that is of Therrien’s making.

Robert Therrien was born in 1947 in Chicago, and has been living and working in Los Angeles since 1971. Recent solo exhibitions include Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY (2006); Kunstmuseum Basel Kupferstichkabinett (2008); De Pont Museum, Tilburg, The Netherlands (2011). Since 2009, a major group of his works has been part of ARTIST ROOMS, a collection of international contemporary art established through The d’Offay Donation with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, The Art Fund and the Scottish and British Governments — most recently on view at the Scottish National Gallery of Art (2010-11). This exhibition is part of The Getty museum's Southern California exhibition initiative, “Pacific Standard Time.”

“Robert Therrien: Smoke Signals” is currently on view at Tate Liverpool until October 2011.