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Big

November 4, 2017 – May 6, 2018

Ed Paschke, Suture, 1985. Oil on linen, 42 x 80 inches. Collection of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. The Bill McClain Collection of Chicago Imagism.
overview

BIG presents over thirty large-scale, modern and contemporary artworks from MMoCA’s permanent collection, including works by Sam Gilliam, Ellsworth Kelly, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jennifer Steinkamp. Historically, large-scale art was reserved for mural paintings in the narrative tradition, but soon artists adopted large canvases to capture new and big ideas—particularly the Abstract Expressionists in the 1950s. This shift to a larger scale demanded galleries and museums adjust their spaces and viewers alter their way of engaging with the work. Through these large works, artists created a physical experience that demanded the viewer’s attention.

Artwork

Skyscraper with Pyramid. Artist: Roger Brown. Date: 1977. Medium: acrylic on wood.

Skyscraper with Pyramid

1977

Roger Brown

Learn more about Skyscraper with Pyramid.
Casual Chic. Artist: David F. Bushman. Date: 1973-74. Medium: oil.

Casual Chic

1973-74

David F. Bushman

Learn more about Casual Chic.
Tim House (In Green Pastures). Artist: Rob and Christian Clayton. Date: 2001. Medium: mixed media on wood panel with electrical and sound.

Tim House (In Green Pastures)

2001

Rob and Christian Clayton

Learn more about Tim House (In Green Pastures).
Carousel. Artist: Sam Gilliam. Date: 1970. Medium: acrylic on unstretched canvas.

Carousel

1970

Sam Gilliam

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Eiler Blues. Artist: Sam Gilliam. Date: 1978. Medium: oil on stitched and unstretched awning canvas with grommets and objects.

Eiler Blues

1978

Sam Gilliam

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Dead Reckoning. Artist: Art Green. Date: 1980. Medium: oil on canvas.

Dead Reckoning

1980

Art Green

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Regulatory Body. Artist: Art Green. Date: 1969. Medium: oil on canvas.

Regulatory Body

1969

Art Green

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Gertrude Stein. Artist: Cham Hendon. Date: 1981. Medium: acrylic and rhoplex on canvas.

Gertrude Stein

1981

Cham Hendon

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Theme for a Drunken Sailor. Artist: Jason Jägel. Date: 2001. Medium: gouache and pencil.

Theme for a Drunken Sailor

2001

Jason Jägel

Learn more about Theme for a Drunken Sailor.
Blue Gray Green Red. Artist: Ellsworth Kelly. Date: 2008. Medium: color lithograph on paper.

Blue Gray Green Red

2008

Ellsworth Kelly

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Rudolph Valentino, August, 1926. Artist: Ellen Lanyon. Date: 1970. Medium: oil on canvas.

Rudolph Valentino, August, 1926

1970

Ellen Lanyon

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Untitled (Cone with Semicircle). Artist: Erik Levine. Date: 1990. Medium: plywood.

Untitled (Cone with Semicircle)

1990

Erik Levine

Learn more about Untitled (Cone with Semicircle).
Leaping Dog. Artist: Frances Myers. Date: 1990. Medium: etching and relief on paper.

Leaping Dog

1990

Frances Myers

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Suture. Artist: Ed Paschke. Date: 1985. Medium: oil on linen.

Suture

1985

Ed Paschke

Learn more about Suture.
Soviet / American Array III. Artist: Robert Rauschenberg. Date: 1989-90. Medium: photogravure.

Soviet / American Array III

1989-90

Robert Rauschenberg

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You Worry About Its Success. Artist: Hollis Sigler. Date: 1987. Medium: oil on canvas.

You Worry About Its Success

1987

Hollis Sigler

Learn more about You Worry About Its Success.
Counterpoise. Artist: Jeanette Pasin Sloan. Date: 2002. Medium: lithograph.

Counterpoise

2002

Jeanette Pasin Sloan

Learn more about Counterpoise.