Dennis Oppenheim

DENNIS OPPENHEIM (Washington, 1938 - New York, 2011).
"Study for Revolving Kissing Racks", 1992.
Mixed media (pencil, colored pencil, pastel and oil) on lithographed base on heavy paper.
A/P copy.
Signed, dated and justified by hand.
Measurements: 121 × 86 cm.

Preparatory study for the installation Revolving Kissing Racks, one of the most representative projects of Dennis Oppenheim's mature stage. The work documents the design of a kinetic sculpture composed of motorized metal structures with rotating plastic lips, described in the handwritten notation below: "12' High Metal Racks - Motors - Plastic Lips".

Beyond its projective function, this is an autonomous work of great visual strength, where the precision of the technical drawing coexists with an intense pictorial intervention in vibrant reds. The indication "AP" (Artist's Proof) suggests a graphic base subsequently worked on by the artist, which makes it a unique or semi-unique piece.

Versions of the final sculpture are preserved in institutions such as the Helsinki City Art Museum and the Frac Auvergne, reinforcing the historical and market interest of this study, key to Oppenheim's evolution into motorized public sculpture.

Dennis Oppenheim was an essential figure in contemporary art and one of the pioneers of Land Art and conceptual art. Throughout his career he evolved towards a multidisciplinary practice that integrated sculpture, installation and large-scale public art. His work is part of important international collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, among other institutions. His legacy stands out for his constant exploration of the boundaries between body, space, technology and architecture.