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Robert TherrienContemporary American artist
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Robert Therrien: A Master of Scale and Simplicity
- Abstraction and Personal Symbolism
- Shifting Perspectives: Embracing the Mundane and the Monumental
- Monumental Play with Size
- Duchampian Wit in the Everyday
- International Recognition and Collections
Robert Therrien: A Master of Scale and Simplicity
Early Artistic RootsRobert Therrien's artistic journey began at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California, and continued at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Initially, he focused on creating reliefs that bridged the gap between painting and sculpture. These works employed simplified forms that were both fundamental and instantly recognizable.
Abstraction and Personal Symbolism
Simultaneously, Therrien ventured into creating freestanding works with the same simple, near-abstract forms. He employed a limited visual vocabulary, often working with similar shapes in varying sizes and materials. The motifs he utilized were relatable in their simplicity, evoking personal associations and intertwining representational and abstract qualities.
Shifting Perspectives: Embracing the Mundane and the Monumental
Incorporating Recognizable ObjectsIn the late 1980s, Therrien's artistic direction shifted. He began introducing more explicit references to real-world objects. Additionally, he transitioned into creating large-scale installations that explored viewers' relationships with scale, akin to Charles Ray's sculptural approach.
Monumental Play with Size
A striking example of this is Therrien's "Under the Table" (1994), where a table and chairs are enlarged into colossal sculptures, towering high enough to walk beneath. By manipulating scale in works like "Untitled" (Stack of Plates) (2004) and "Table and Chairs" (exhibited at the 1996 Carnegie International), Therrien invites viewers to reconsider the mundane elements of everyday life, dramatizing what we often overlook.
Duchampian Wit in the Everyday
Therrien employs Duchampian wit in his engagement with the banal. His "Untitled" (Black Cloud of Telephones) (1998) alludes to the barrage of information that besieges individuals in the modern world.
International Recognition and Collections
Throughout his career, Therrien has achieved international acclaim, exhibiting his works globally since the 1970s. His pieces grace the collections of prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Centre Pompidou in Paris, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, Tate Modern in London, Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, and Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
