Tom Wesselmann (American, 1931-2004) - Bedroom Face with Tulip

Signed and dated ‘Wesselmann 1986’ bottom right, Liquitex on paper.
48 ½ x 56 ½ in. (123.2 x 143.5cm)

Provenance

Collection of Jordan and Cynthia Katz, Pennsylvania.
The Estate of Jordan and Cynthia Katz, Pennsylvania.

Exhibition

“Tom Wesselmann: A New Approach to Drawing,” The Queens Museum, Flushing, New York, March 21-May 10, 1987; traveled to The Norton Gallery of Art, West Palm Beach, Florida, January 23-March 6, 1988.

Literature

Ileen Sheppard-Gallagher, Tom Wesselmann: A New Approach to Drawing, exhibition catalogue, Flushing, New York: The Queens Museum, 1987.

Lot Essay

Known for his bold and vibrant depictions of everyday objects, Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004) often explored themes of consumer culture, sexuality, and the female form in his artwork. Bedroom Face with Tulip, a large work on paper from the Katz collection, exemplifies the artist’s distinctive style, featuring a graphic representation of a face alongside a tulip against the backdrop of a bedroom setting. Through the use of bright colors, simplified forms, and sharp lines, Wesselmann creates a visually striking composition that captures the essence of pop art's playful yet provocative aesthetic, and invites viewers to reconsider the familiar in a new light.