Lichtenstein, after Schlemmer

Art x Outfit Edit #31

Many things can happen strolling around New York, but few are as exquisite as running into an unexpected gem. Granted, Gagosian often showcases blue chip gems. But for all I know about Roy Lichtenstein, I had never seen his piece Bauhaus Stairway Mural (1989), currently exposed at one of the Chelsea locations of the gallery.

The piece is grand, measuring more than 26 feet tall and painted in oil and Magna on canvas. It pays homage to German abstract artist Oskar Schlemmer (1888–1943) and his painting Bauhaustreppe (Bauhaus Stairway, 1932) and reinterprets a German early-century masterpiece with pop accents.

The color fields structure the painting of which the scale inevitably grabs the attention of the viewers who feels they are themselves down the stairs depicted. With his signature Benday dots inspired by comic strip, combined with the simplified geometric shapes of the bodies and stairs, the artist create a sense of depth thanks to successive plans that guide the eye up the unfolding stairs – akin to comic strip cases.

These stairs could be anywhere: in the subway, recalling the day to day reality of millions. Or in a museum, hinting to the sense of collective escapism felt when seeing art, and doubling a form of mise en abyme. According to Gagosian, “Lichtenstein’s mural was commissioned for the main atrium of the headquarters of the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in Beverly Hills, which the building’s architect, I.M. Pei, envisioned as a meeting place for writers, directors, actors, musicians, and agents”. That is a place of learning, sharing, and daily life.

The outfit below reflects the versatility of emotions created and experienced by the painting. The outfit can be a daily upscale or an evening casual – without any major tweak. The colors conserve the bold, appealing accents of the paintings and scream their presence, or even, their longing for interaction.

The Splurge

Jacquemus Sweater ($413)
Michelle Mason Pants ($198)
Olympia Le-Tan Degas Clutch – (meta reference for sure) ($2,077)
Prada pumps ($1,390)
Ferragamo Necklace ($870)