Although Conceptual artist John Baldessari is best known for the richly provocative juxtapositions of photographic images and text that characterize his prints and paintings, he actually had something of a traditional art world upbringing — if such a thing exists.
Born in Southern California, Baldessari earned several art degrees, from art education to art history to painting. He also taught art at various institutions such as the California Institute of the Arts throughout his life. Among his many students were David Salle, Tony Oursler, Jim Shaw and Mike Kelley. While helping to shape the art world in Los Angeles, he simultaneously developed his own name as an artist.
In the 1950s, Baldessari’s works were primarily semiabstract paintings, but during the late 1960s, he began to distance himself from painting, as he bristled at the idea of limiting art to a single medium. Baldessari decided to take his career in a dramatically different direction. He burned all his paintings at a funeral home in San Diego, then incorporated the ashes into cookie dough, producing (nonedible) baked goods for an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
“It was a very public and symbolic act,” he said, “like announcing you’re going on a diet in order to stick to it.”
From that point on, Baldessari took on an MO of experimentation, dabbling in mediums from video to printmaking to sculpture. “I just stare at something and say: Why isn’t that art? Why couldn’t that be art?” he said in an interview in 2008.
The works for which Baldessari is most highly regarded, however, are striking collages of images and text — many of which are seemingly nonsensical — such as Tom’s Hand Grips the Steering, Wheel… (2015), in which the title’s text is displayed beneath a hippopotamus. As such is his body of work: bringing a sense of joviality to the sometimes too-serious world of Conceptual art.
Before he died in 2020, Baldessari was honored with the 2014 National Medal of Arts Award, the Americans for the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award, the Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and more.
Find original John Baldessari art on 1stDibs.
Artwork on Paper, 'Heart (with Pearls)' by John Baldessari
By John Baldessari
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Romantic and whimsical "Heart (with Pearls)" by John Baldessari, 1991. Photograuve and aquatint in colors on Somerset 410 Satin. The image measures 36 - 3/8"H x 39 - 6/8"W, and sheet...
Glass
John Baldessari 'Raised Eyebrows/Furrowed Foreheads/Figure with Globe', 2009
By John Baldessari
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Artist: John Baldessari (American, born 1931) Title: 'Raised Eyebrows/Furrowed Foreheads/Figure with Globe' Year: 2009 Medium: 9-Color Silkscreen on Fabriano paper, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 33 of 70 Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles Size: 32" x 31" Biography: John Baldessari is an American Conceptual artist known for his pioneering use of appropriated imagery. By blending photography, painting, and text, Baldessari’s work examines the plastic nature of artistic media while offering commentary on our contemporary culture. “I’ve often thought of myself as a frustrated writer,” he explained. “I consider a word and an image of equal weight, and a lot of my work comes out of that kind of thinking.” Through a diverse practice that includes paintings, sculpture, and installations, the artist shaped the Conceptual Art landscape alongside Joseph Kosuth and Hans Haacke...
$760Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.13 in W 33.63 in D 1.13 in
Framed Lithograph Landscape with View of the Lake and Boats Signed
By Henri Martin
Located in Miami, FL
A very colorful lithograph professionally framed, signed. This interesting work of art is attributed to Bernard Gatner. Will enhance any space. Measures: 26 1/8" H x 33 5/8" W x 1...
Paper
$4,500
H 38 in W 43.25 in D 2 in
Sandro Chia "Painter with Teddy Bears" Carborundum Etching 1989-90, Signed
By Sandro Chia
Located in New York, NY
Post Modern master Sandro Chia carborundum etching or mezzo-print titled "Painter with Teddy bears" is signed and numbered 8 of 50. Produced between 1989-90 in New York City. The pri...
Paper
$7,562
H 13.78 in W 11.23 in D 1.19 in
Rare Wes Lang Chateau Marmont Contemporary Ink on Paper Artwork, 2009
By Wes Lang
Located in Stockholm, SE
Rare "Hi There" contemporary artwork / ink on paper by Wes Lang from the iconic Chateau Marmont series, 2009. In great condition. Professionally framed in oak and signed on the back....
Glass, Oak, Paper
$175
H 12 in W 18 in D 0.004 in
"Flight" by Louis Shields Figurative Archival Print on Textured Watercolor Paper
By Louis Shields
Located in Middleburg, VA
Offered is an eye-catching limited edition archival print by artist Louis Shields, titled "Flight." Part of Shields' 2018 Dancer Series, this dynamic composition captures the fleetin...
Paper, Paint
Iridescent Oil Paint and Wax on Paper by James Nares
By James Nares
Located in Stamford, CT
Unique oil paint and wax on paper by James Nares ( British, b. 1953 ). Untitled. circa 2008. Archivally framed in a 12-karat white gold frame.
Paper
Mario Schifano "Acerbi" Materic Serigraph with frame
By Mario Schifano
Located in Brescia, IT
Mario Schifano "Acerbi" Year: 1990s Medium: Materic serigraph Edition: 99/199 Frame size: 110 x 80 x 5 cm Signed and numbered.
Wood, Paper
Large Patrick Nagel Vintage 1980s Female Portrait Poster in New Frame
By Patrick Nagel
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Effortlessly bridging pop-art allure and refined modernism, this pair of 1980s Patrick Nagel portrait posters makes a bold visual statement. Each print features Nagel’s signature aes...
Canvas, Paper, Acrylic
$850
H 36 in W 36 in D 0.19 in
"1 H Sustaining, " Limited Edition Print by Renée Rey from a Series of Four
Located in New York, NY
"1 H Sustaining," is an orange, white and gray archival Fine Art print in a limited edition of 75 by Renée Rey. Each signed Archival Pigment numbered work is printed on hot press rag...
Paper
$781Sale Price / item|10% Off
H 33.47 in W 25.2 in D 1.58 in
Abel, Limited and Numbered Portrait Print with Matte Frame
By Benoît Convers
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2) Limited and numbered portrait print with matte frame "Certifi...
Aluminum
Olga Vladimirovna Rozanova Watercolor on Paper
Located in Pasadena, TX
Olga Rozanova "Abstract Geometrics" watercolor on paper (Russian, 1886-1918) Rozanova was born on June 22, 1886, in the small town of Melenki near Vladimir, Russia. After finishing at the Vladimir Women’s Gymnasium in 1904, she studied painting in Moscow. Dissatisfied with the “wretched system of instruction” at the state-run Stroganov Academy of Arts and Industry, she transferred to Konstantin Yuon’s private school, where she met Liubov Popova...
Paper
"Umbrella Man" Serigraph on Wove Paper by Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in San Diego, CA
Limited edition serigraph on wove paper (314 of 495) "Peter Max 2015" embossed seal in lower left Colors are very vibrant and bright Hand signed "Max" in pencil in lower right hand c...
Other
Signed Figural Abstract Aquatint Colored Etching
Located in Chicago, IL
Vivid color and intricate design are the focal points of this aquatint colored etching print numbered 2 of 4. Signed I.P.I.
Metal
Sold
H 12.25 in W 15.5 in D 1 in
John Baldessari Throwing Three Balls in the Air to Get a Straight Line, 1973
By John Baldessari
Located in Stamford, CT
John Baldessari 1931-2019 "Throwing Three Balls in the Air to Get a Straight Line (Best of Thirty-Six Attempts)", 1973 Complete portfolio of twelve offset lithographs in colors, on...
Paper
Sold
H 38 in W 34 in D 0.5 in
Contemporary Unframed "Valentine" by John Baldessari Signed Dated 2015 32/50
By John Baldessari
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a marvelous, unframed 16 color screen-print, entitled "Valentine," by John Baldessari, signed, dated 2015 and numbered 32/50. In excellent condition. The di...
"John Baldessari - Catalogue Raisonné Volume One: 1956-1974"
By John Baldessari
Located in CA, CA
Slip-cased first edition, published by Yale University Press, 2012. This slip-cased catalogue raisonné presents the influential early work of conceptual artist John Baldessari. Fr...
Paper