Robert Rauschenberg was one of the preeminent American artists of the 20th century, occupying a singular position that straddled the Abstract Expressionist and Pop art movements, drawing on key elements of each. An artistic polymath equally adept at painting, collage and silkscreening, Rauschenberg is best known for for the complex assemblages of found objects he termed “combines.”
Rauschenberg was born in Port Arthur, Texas, in 1925. He first began to seriously consider a career in art in 1947, while serving in the U.S. Marines. After leaving the service, he briefly studied art in Paris with support from the G.I. Bill, then moved to North Carolina to attend Black Mountain College, home to a flourishing cross-disciplinary art community. Among his peers there were choreographer Merce Cunningham and composer John Cage, both of whom became friends and artistic collaborators.
Relocating to New York in the mid-1950s, Rauschenberg was initially put off by what he perceived as the self-seriousness of the adherents of Abstract Expressionism, then the dominant movement in the New York art world. Like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Rauschenberg was drawn to the visual landscape of popular culture and mined its imagery for inspiration. He used unorthodox materials like house paint and tried novel techniques in his studio like running paper over with a car whose wheels he had inked. Shortly after his inaugural solo exhibition at Leo Castelli Gallery, which featured paintings and drawings, he pivoted to a new format, creating his first found-object combines, which became his signature. The most famous of these is the 1959 Monogram in which a taxidermied goat is surrounded by a car tire, recalling the way a person’s initials are interwoven in the design referred to by the title.
Later in the 1960s, Rauschenberg turned his attention to silkscreening, creating prints that feature iconic figures of the day, very much in line with the style and content of Pop art. One such work, 1965's Core, which was created to commemorate the Congress of Racial Equality, combines photographs of President Kennedy, an unidentified Native American man, and a statue of a Civil War soldier with images of highways, amusement parks, street signs, and other features of the built environment. A circular color-test wheel sits at the composition’s formal core, reflecting the work’s commentary on race and ethnicity.
Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, Rauschenberg experimented with printing on unusual materials, such as Plexiglas, clothing and aluminum. Venturing even further afield, he created performance works, such as his 1963 choreographed piece “Pelican” and the 1966 film Open Score. In 1998, the Guggenheim Museum presented a large and comprehensive retrospective of Rauschenberg’s work, highlighting his influence on American art in the second half of the 20th century.
Find original Robert Rauschenberg art for sale on 1stDibs.
Robert Rauschenberg -Snowflake Crime XIX ACE Gallery Coll unique signed painting
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in New York, NY
Historic, institutional quality unique Rauschenberg signed work on paper, with storied provenance: a real gem: Robert Rauschenberg 'Snowflake Crime XIX', from the ACE Gallery Collec...
Fabric, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Handmade Paper, Permanent Marker
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover for Talking Heads’ acclaimed...
Lithograph, Offset
Untitled Limited Edition Porcelain Plate (Guggenheim Museum) Robert Rauschenberg
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in New York, NY
Robert Rauschenberg Rare lifetime edition Untitled Limited Edition Porcelain Plate (Guggenheim Museum), 1997 Porcelain Plate (Limited Edition Exclusively for Guggenheim) 10 2/5 in di...
Porcelain, Screen
Price Upon Request
Narcissus, from ROCI USA (Wax Fire Works)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Robert Rauschenberg, American (1925 - 2008) Title: Narcissus, from ROCI USA (Wax Fire Works) Year: 1990 Medium: Acrylic, Enamel, and Fire Wax on Sta...
Enamel, Stainless Steel
$520
H 22 in W 15 in
"The Couple", Abstract, Minimalist, Gold Leaf, Watercolor Painting
By Anita Loomis
Located in Franklin, MA
"The Couple" by Anita Loomis is a quiet but rich 22 x 15 inch watercolor of a couple depicted in minimalist abstract form inspired by simple, elegant native...
Mixed Media, Watercolor, Handmade Paper
$2,500
H 51.25 in W 51.25 in
Science is Truth Found Out (Red), Limited 1st Edition signed silk twill scarf
By Ed Ruscha
Located in New York, NY
Ed Ruscha Science is Truth Found Out (Red) Limited Edition scarf , held in bespoke box, 2022 Limited Edition 100% silk twill scarf, bearing Ruscha's authorized signature on both the ...
Cotton, Silk, Mixed Media, Screen
$3,400
H 31 in W 8 in D 0.4 in
Yayoi Kusama - With all My Flowering Heart Skateboard Triptych, 3 Skate Decks
By Yayoi Kusama
Located in New York, NY
Yayoi Kusama With All My Flowering Heart (Triptych), 2014 Set of Three (3) Separate Limited Edition numbered skate decks on 7-ply Canadian maple wood 31 × 8 × 2/5 inches (each) Hand ...
Wood, Mixed Media, Permanent Marker, Screen
$1,145
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 0.79 in
Chanel No. 5 - contemporary original pop art icon portrait of Marilyn Monroe
By Devin Miles
Located in Hamburg, DE
"Chanel No. 5", 2018, 40 x 40 cm, is a mixed media work by German artist Devin Miles depicting Marilyn Monroe. The mixed media work is a painstaking crafted work made of brushed alum...
Stainless Steel
Affiche pour l'Exposition Miro-Artigas, 1963
By Joan Miró
Located in Sheffield, MA
Joan Miro Spanish, 1893-1983 Affiche pour l'Exposition Miro-Artigas, 1963 Lithograph on Rives paper 33" x 22 1/4" W/frame 33 ¾ by 23 in. Pencil signed lower right from an edition of 174/200. Joan Miró Ferra was born April 20, 1893, in Barcelona Spain, the son of a goldsmith and watchmaker. At the age of 14, he went to business school in Barcelona and also attended La Lonja's Escuela Superior de Artes Industriales in the same city. Upon completing three years of art studies, and under pressure from his parents, he took a position as an accounting clerk. After suffering a nervous breakdown, he abandoned business and resumed his art studies, attending Galí's Escola d'Art in Barcelona from 1912 to 1915. Miró's work before 1920 showed the latest artistic influences, including the bright colors of the Fauves* and the geometric forms of Cubism*. It was in Paris through the 1920s-1930s where, under the influence of Surrealist* poets and writers, Miró evolved his mature style. His latest works drew on the Surrealist principles of memory, fantasy, and the irrational to create visual art. Miró's works were also shaped by the flat, two-dimensionality of his native Catalan folk art, Spanish Romanesque...
Lithograph
$1,900
H 10 in W 10 in D 1.75 in
Walled Off Hotel Boxed Set Assemblage w/original embossed receipt from Bethlehem
By Banksy
Located in New York, NY
Banksy (after) Walled Off Hotel Boxed Set Assemblage, 2018 Mixed Media assemblage: unique piece of concrete/cement wall with framed lithograph. Accompanied by original embossed rece...
Concrete
$24,900
H 66.87 in W 36.37 in D 1.62 in
Contemporary Green Acrylic Lenticular Panel Dancing Man, Julian Opie, Dance 2
By Julian Opie
Located in Miami, FL
In an expansion of Julian Opie's subject matter, from his observations of city dwellers, figures walking in the rain, runners and tourists to busy crowds of workers, the four new edi...
Lenticular, Acrylic Polymer
$24,900
H 66.87 in W 36.37 in D 1.62 in
Contemporary Red Acrylic Lenticular Panel Moving Dancing Woman, Dance 3
By Julian Opie
Located in Miami, FL
In an expansion of Julian Opie's subject matter, from his observations of city dwellers, figures walking in the rain, runners and tourists to busy crowds of workers, the four new edi...
Acrylic Polymer, Lenticular
$15,000
H 18.75 in W 18.75 in D 1 in
I Have Been to Hell and Back, Limited Edition Handkerchief (Red) Tate Gallery
By Louise Bourgeois
Located in New York, NY
Louise Bourgeois I Have Been to Hell and Back Handkerchief, 2007 Embroidery on 100% Cotton Handkerchief With the artist's silkscreened initiala Han...
Cotton, Thread, Paper, Mixed Media, Offset, Screen
AQUARIUM (JUDAICA ART)
By Amram Ebgi
Located in Aventura, FL
Embossed lithograph with foil stamping on paper. Hand signed and numbered by the artist. AP edition of 450. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity included...
Foil
$40
H 4.75 in W 2.75 in D 0.07 in
Libra, zodiac collage, print, figurative, gold, tarot, horoscope, metallic edge
By Deming King Harriman
Located in Jersey City, NJ
Libra, by Deming King Harriman; collage, print, figurative, gold, tarot, horoscope, metallic gold edge, on glossy heavy card stock with pink design on reverse.
Gold Leaf
Rose, Cover from 1 Cent Life
By Roy Lichtenstein
Located in Austin, TX
Artist: Roy Lichtenstein Title: Rose, Cover from 1 Cent Life (Rose) Screenprint in green over yellow linen and (1 Cent Life) Screenprint in pink over blue lettering on board of unbou...
Linen, Screen
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover for Talking Heads’ acclaimed...
Lithograph, Offset
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover for Talking Heads’ acclaimed...
Lithograph, Offset
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover for Talking Heads’ acclaimed...
Lithograph, Offset
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover...
Lithograph, Offset
Plot
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in New York, NY
A collage with embossing and five silkscreens handprinted on India W.C. 72lb. 100% rag paper (Edition of 100) This artwork is offered by CLAMP in New York City. “Robert Rauschenb...
Rag Paper
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover for Talking Heads’ acclaimed studio album, Speaking in Tongues. Rauschenberg’s design features three spinning plastic discs set amidst a collage of images, including a wrecked car, highway billboard, and suburban bedroom that can all be spun to produce different effects. Also included, is a clear vinyl LP...
Lithograph, Offset
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover...
Offset, Lithograph
Double Luck Skateboard
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in New York, NY
Robert Rauschenberg Limited Edition Double Luck Skate board, 2016 Mixed Media Silkscreen on 7-Ply 100% Canadian Maplewood Skate Board 31 × 8 inches Edition of 300 Signed on the...
Wood, Screen
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover...
Offset
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover...
Offset
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover...
Offset
Sold
H 12.9 in W 12.9 in
Robert Rauschenberg Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues (new/sealed)
By Robert Rauschenberg
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Rare unopened Robert Rauschenberg designed Talking Heads Speaking in Tongues: In 1983, legendary pop artist Robert Rauschenberg designed the album cover...
Offset, Plastic, Vinyl