Claes Oldenburg was a Swedish American pop artist who became known for larger than life sculpture of everyday objects that he called ‘Colossal Monuments’.
His work embodied a sense of imposing size, but also humor, especially when displayed in prominent public spaces, cutting through the seriousness that often accompanies large sculpture.
From dust brooms to clothespins to matchsticks, Oldenburg transformed ordinary into memorable and delightful. He died in Manhattan this week at age 93.
Read more on The NY Times:
“While Mr. Oldenburg’s work is most often linked to the Pop Art of the 1960s, he saw his monumental versions of humble objects as more than just celebrations of the mundane.”
 -NYTimes
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 01: The large-scale street art “Saw, Sawing” by Claes Oldenburg / Coosje Van Bruggen Sculpture is seen outside the Main Press Centre facility on day 9 of the Tokyo Olympic Games on August 01, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)