Robert Arneson
Hommage to Philip Guston 1981
Art © Estate of Robert Arneson/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY. Reproduction of this image, including downloading, is prohibited.
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Hommage To Philip Guston, is a small ceramic sculpture made in 1981 at the end of the Funk art movement. Standing at fourteen inches tall and eighteen inches long, it depicts a cone-shaped figure with a disembodied hand holding a cigarette. The figure has zero arms or legs, only a head and hand resting atop a ceramic base. Protruding out from the back of the cone’s head, a yellow ceramic paintbrush with bright red bristles droop down resembling a ponytail resting on someone’s shoulder. The cone from top to bottom is glazed a pale pink with splotches of earthy greens and deep ocean blues.
There are small holes formed around the cone in sets of three all connected by black lines revealing a hollow interior. The main “face” consists of two holes positioned right next to each other with green marbles resting in the hollow sockets. Below these marble eyes is another hole, seemingly the mouth. The entire face is framed by a bright red triangle that has more
holes located at each edge of the triangle. The hand is glazed a paper white with bulky fingers reminiscent of gloves worn by cartoon characters. The cigarette between the index and middle fingers is burnt down to its end.
The cone-headed figure rests upon a ceramic surface glazed a deep ocean blue with light blue white strokes surrounding the cone, creating a ripple effect. Like a sea monster emerging from the depths. The sides of this area are painted a sandy-pink though it still contains faint white strokes from the blue ripples.



