New Volume Is a Deep Dive Into Lichtenstein’s Substantial Oeuvre of Outdoor Sculpture

From early in his career Roy Lichtenstein, best known for his iconic Pop Art paintings on canvas, explored sculptural forms as well.

After initially experimenting with small indoor pieces, from the late 1970s he often concentrated on works to be shown outdoors, and over the next two decades the artist fashioned an extensive oeuvre of vibrantly colored, large-scale painted outdoor sculpture. Today, preserving these remarkable works after they have lasted decades in outdoor environments around the world is an issue of pressing concern.

The first detailed account of the materials and techniques used in the creation of Lichtenstein’s outdoor sculpture, Roy Lichtenstein: Outdoor Painted Sculpture (Getty Conservation Institute, $40), is an abundantly illustrated volume based on extensive archival research of Lichtenstein’s studio materials, interviews with his assistants, and a thorough technical analysis of the sculpture Three Brushstrokes. After early chapters situate Lichtenstein in the context of postwar American art, the book traces the evolution of his sculptural materials and techniques, as he collaborated with various fabricators and paint manufacturers in creating these monumental outdoor works. The book concludes with a chapter showing various options for the care, conservation, and restoration of Lichtenstein’s outdoor sculpture, making this an essential resource for conservators, curators, and others interested both in the iconic artist and modern sculpture in general.