Rosenquist, James

born 1933 - died 2017

James Rosenquist is a well-known Pop artist who frequently addresses political themes. His mother, who was also an artist, encouraged his interest in art. Rosenquist studied under the artist Cameron Boothan at the University of Minnesota. He earned his living as a painter of advertising posters. He painted his first billboard in 1954, and a year later, he received a scholarship to the Art Students League in New York. After completing his studies, he pursued a career as an advertising poster painter. After a one-year hiatus, he devoted himself primarily to his artistic career from 1960 onwards, developing his unique style of painting on commercial billboards.

His fragmented visual language draws on numerous commercial, social, and political themes. During the Vietnam War, Rosenquist continued to paint his large-scale paintings, repeatedly attracting criticism. The most notable work was the F-111 bomber, for which he combined typical American motifs with the grim images of nuclear war, missiles, and fighter-bombers. By combining classic advertising with traditional painting, Rosenquist developed a completely new perspective on familiar objects and circumstances.