EXHIBITION
Roy Lichtenstein

Combining art and everyday life

The Albertina in Vienna is celebrating the 100th birthday of Roy Lichtenstein, the master of Pop Art, with a major retrospective. The extensive show brings together around 100 of his most important works – from paintings and sculptures to works on paper. The works, which range from the early 1960s to Lichtenstein’s late work, have been brought together thanks to generous loans from renowned museums and private collectors from Europe and the USA. Known for his innovative and ironic art that draws on the everyday, Lichtenstein has blurred the boundaries between so-called high art and popular culture, creating art that reflects both the mass media and the advertising industry.

Irony and criticism as art

Lichtenstein used the visual language of comics and advertising to question the elitist concept of art and at the same time criticise the omnipresent consumer culture. His works are characterised by the use of primary colours, simplified forms and the famous “Ben-Day-Dots”. This technique, which imitates the appearance of cheap prints, became his trademark. By isolating and monumentalising comic figures and advertising motifs in his works, Lichtenstein created a new, humorous and at the same time subversive art form. His approach of creating works of art from supposedly non-artistic motifs sparked debate and contributed significantly to the expansion of the concept of art.

Variety from comics to sculpture

The exhibition at the Albertina not only shows Lichtenstein’s famous Pop Art paintings, but also his experiments with different materials and formats. In addition to iconic paintings such as “Drowning Girl” and “Whaam!”, the retrospective also includes lesser-known works such as his enamel landscapes and ceramic sculptures. The Roy Lichtenstein Foundation’s donation of a series of sculptures, drawings and other objects to the Albertina is particularly noteworthy. This diversity in Lichtenstein’s oeuvre shows that his artistic expression went far beyond the canvas and that he constantly endeavoured to expand the boundaries of the medium.

The legacy of an art rebel

Roy Lichtenstein has had a lasting impact on the art world and is now regarded as one of the pioneers of Pop Art. His art has secured him a place alongside other art legends such as Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock. The exhibition at the Albertina offers a comprehensive overview of Lichtenstein’s work and emphasises his influence on contemporary art. By bringing together important works from international collections and highlighting his innovative techniques and themes, the exhibition not only honours the artist, but also his contribution to art history. Lichtenstein’s legacy lives on in his colourful and provocative works, which continue to inspire generations of artists and art lovers today.

The exhibition “Roy Lichtenstein – A Centennial Exhibition” (Advertising) on the website of the Albertina in Vienna.

Exhibition book

A book by Gunhild Bauer and Klaus Albrecht Schröder has been published by Prestel Verlag to accompany the exhibition “Roy Lichtenstein – A Centennial Exhibition”. The book offers a comprehensive overview of Roy Lichtenstein’s work and accompanies the “Centennial Exhibition” at the Albertina. It reflects the relevance of Lichtenstein’s work for contemporary art and is an indispensable addition for art lovers who want to better understand and experience the work of this master of Pop Art.