The drawings by artist Robert Longo are a sensory experience: They are monumental, detailed and hard-hitting in their subject matter, which often includes critiques of power, social unrest and consumer capitalism.
Longo has spent his career exploring mediums as varied as the Photorealistic charcoal drawings for which he is best known and film direction. In all of his work, however, he draws inspiration from his deep background in sculpture. “I always think that drawing is a sculptural process. I always feel like I’m carving the image out rather than painting the image. I’m carving it out with erasers and tools like that,” he once said.
The Long Island, New York, native attended high school with a man who was shot at Kent State University while protesting the U.S. invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War in 1970, and the famous image of this man lying dead on the ground influenced Longo so deeply that he began to consider all art political. Longo attended Buffalo State College, where he met and became friends with artist Cindy Sherman, and later the two moved to New York City together.
Longo’s revered work includes his charcoal and graphite “Men in the Cities” drawings. The Photorealist series, which debuted at Metro Pictures gallery in Manhattan in 1981, depicted people in formal business clothing. Posing in suspended animation in unusual contortions, the figures take on a choreographic quality and represent the career-minded “yuppies” of the era.
“Men in the Cities” was inspired by punk rock music and decades later has been cited as a visual reference for the opening sequence of the popular television drama Mad Men. The work was among the most recognizable and iconic of the Pictures Generation — the movement by artists who came of age in the 1970s and were disillusioned by the social and political conditions of the time. In 2014, Longo created 12 charcoal drawings for a series titled “Gang of Cosmos,” which were black-and-white depictions of famous Abstract Expressionist works by artists like Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and Lee Krasner.
Through his provocative, detailed and highly precise prints, drawings, photography and sculpture, Longo continues to challenge traditional sources of power and authority.
Find original Robert Longo art on 1stDibs.
Robert Longo, Janet (from Men in the Cities) - Signed Photograph
By Robert Longo
Located in Hamburg, DE
Robert Longo (American, born 1953) Janet (from Men in the Cities), 1981/2016 Medium: Archival pigment print in colours, on Canson Platine fiber paper Dimensions: 47.7 x 35.5 cm Editi...
Archival Pigment
Robert Longo, Eric, NYC: Signed C-Print and Artist's Book
By Robert Longo
Located in Hamburg, DE
Robert Longo (b.1953) Eric, NYC, 1980, 2009 Medium: C-print on photo paper (incl. artist’s book) Dimensions: 25.5 x 18.5 cm (10 × 7 1/4 in) Edition of 100: Hand-signed in black pen
C Print
Untitled (Janet)
By Robert Longo
Located in New York, NY
An iconic and highly collectible image from Robert Longo’s, Men in the Cities series, this color print was taken in 1981 and print again by the artist in 2016. A chromogenic print o...
C Print
$4,072
H 23.62 in W 40 in D 0.02 in
Formula 1 Ferrari - Fernando Alonso, Signed limited edition still life, Race
By Laurent Campus
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Formula 1 Ferrari - Signed limited edition archival pigment print, 2011 - Edition of 5 Formula 1 , Preseason test, 2011 , Barcelona, Spain. Fernando Alonso for Ferrari Photo/R...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Color, Giclée, Pigment, Archival Pig...
$1,092
H 40 in W 50 in D 0.1 in
'Harvest Dance' Movement dance figures gold yellow orange fire nature wild
By Sophia Milligan
Located in Penzance, GB
'Harvest Dance' Limited edition archival photograph. Unframed, hand signed and numbered _________________ Late August, captured in the glow of the evening sun, my daughters join han...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment, Archival Ink, Giclée
Curves - Ltd Ed 2 of 10
By Dinesh Boaz
Located in New York, NY
Shot from a helicopter. Formula 1 USA Grand Prix, Austin Texas, 2019. All prints are Fujiflex Chromogenic prints with a crystal laminate. Framing is available in white or black a...
Archival Pigment
$4,400
H 30 in W 40 in D 0.01 in
Jake Chessum 'Amy Winehouse Camden Town Launderett' Signed Limited Edition Print
By Jake Chessum
Located in London, GB
Kate Moss Amy Winehouse Camden Town Launderette III by Jake Chessum ‘In a now closed launderette on Camden Parkway. This was at the end of the day as it was getting dark. We didn’t ...
C Print, Color
$500
H 31.5 in W 29.25 in D 1.625 in
After Edvard Munch, "Anxiety" poster print
By Edvard Munch
Located in New York, NY
After Edvard Munch (1863-1944) Angst, originally executed in 1896; this reproduction likely 21st century Publisher unknown Digital print (?) Sight: 22 1/2 x 20 1/8 in. Framed: 31 1/2...
C Print
$800
H 20 in W 16 in
Scrutiny Archival Pigment Print, Contemporary Portrait, Signed
By Andrew Pinkham
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This archival illustrative photography pigment print on cotton rag by Andrew Pinkham measures 20in x 16in and is signed and numbered. This piece is part of a small edition of 10. "...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$204
H 15.75 in W 20.48 in D 1.38 in
Bandstand III, Eastbourne, UK - Black and White Vintage Photography
By Samuel Field
Located in Cambridge, GB
'Bandstand', captured on a visit to his grandparents at the British seaside in Eastbourne, this collection by Samuel Field is a beautiful reminder of days gone by. This artwork is a...
Photographic Paper, Black and White, C Print, Silver Gelatin
Winged Migration
By Tom Chambers
Located in Sante Fe, NM
Entropic Kingdom I present unspoken stories which illustrate fleeting moments in time and which are intended to evoke a mood in the viewer. These mythical illustrations might addr...
Archival Pigment
$800
H 20 in W 16 in
The Critic Archival Pigment Print, Signed Edition of 10, Contemporary
By Andrew Pinkham
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This archival illustrative photography pigment print on cotton rag by Andrew Pinkham measures 20in x 16in and is signed and numbered. This piece is part of a small edition of 10. "...
Archival Paper, Archival Pigment
$6,515
H 59.06 in W 41.15 in D 0.08 in
Last Dance 2 - Michael Schumacher Formula 1 Mercedes, Red, Still life, Race
By Laurent Campus
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
Last Dance 2 - Signed limited edition archival pigment print, 2011 - Edition of 5 Formula 1 , Preseason test, 2011 , Barcelona, Spain. Michael Schumacher's last appearance in the Formula 1 Preseason test Photo/Reportage exhibited in 2011 in the Hotel Augusta, Official hotel of the Ferrari and Mercedes teams during the F1 races in Catalonia/Spain. This is an Archival Pigment print on fiber based paper ( Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 gsm , Acid-free and lignin-free paper, Museum quality paper for highest age resistance and a popular alternative to analogue baryta paper). The inks used are also known for their longevity. Signed + numbered by artist with certificate of authenticity. Archival pigment print available sizes ( Image size , the white margin is not counted): 75 x 52.3 cm / 29.752 x 20.47 in. - Edition of 5 101.6 x 70.8 cm/ 40 x 27.55 in. - Edition of 5 150 cm x 104.5 cm/ 59.05 x 40.94 in. - Edition of 5 Laurent Campus is an Italian freelance producer and photographer. In addition to an academic training in international trade, he has forged a solid musical, pictorial and cinematographic culture which led him gradually and naturally to the photography he has been practicing for more than twenty years full-time professionally. Its customers are brands that have supported the film industry for many years ( L'Oréal, Renault, DIOR, GENERAL MOTORS, FranckProvost, FranceTV, Canal +, EPSON, CANON, FESTIVAL DE CANNES, HFPA, VUELING, CARL F. BUCHERER , IWC, ParisMatch,…) as artists (filmmakers, actors, musicians) or producers and distributors. He has gravitated for more than 20 years at the heart of French and international cinema. Cinema photographer and reporter, making of : “Cannes Film Festival official” photographer "Official Golden Globes ceremony” photographer SONY Spain Photo...
Archival Paper, Photographic Paper, Color, Giclée, Pigment, Archival Pig...
$5,500
H 36 in W 24 in D 1 in
"Unbound II" Photography 36" x 24" inch Edition 1/10 by Aaron Mcpolin
By Aaron McPolin
Located in Culver City, CA
"Unbound II" Photography 36" x 24" inch Edition 1/10 by Aaron Mcpolin Medium: Archival Giclee Print Signed and numbered by the artist. Comes with COA issued by the artist. Comes in ...
Archival Pigment
$850
H 40 in W 28 in
Yellow Bikini - Figurative Photography Portrait Original Artwork
By Marco Pittori
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Marco Pittori has always worked with photography. He uses either his own or licensed photographs, such as photographs from the renowned Los Angeles photographer Brad Elterman. "Brad’...
Paper, Mixed Media, Screen
STUDY OF FERGUSON RIOT COPS
By Robert Longo
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed, titled and dated by the artist. Original ink and charcoal on vellum paper. Framed size approx 30.75 x 34 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Auth...
Paper, Ink