Jonathan Seliger (Born 1955)

Leaner, 2001
Acrylic, modeling paste, lacquer on canvas
96” x 7 ½” x 1 ¾”
Courtesy of Jack Shainman Gallery, New York

Flat Top, 2003
Oil, alkyd, acrylic, modeling paste, varnish on canvas
15 ¾” x 9” x 4”
Courtesy of Jack Shainman Gallery, New York
Museum Piece (Absolutes), 2001
Oil, alkyd, acrylic, modeling paste, varnish on canvas
15” x 14 ¼” x 6 1/4'”
Courtesy of Jack Shainman Gallery, New York
Jonathan Seliger was a writer and art critic before becoming an artist and his love for words remains strong. They appear on the majority of his sculptures, which are of two basic kinds: Actual size similacra and exaggerated morphs or mutations of ordinary objects. Since the latter are not trompe l’oeil, only the first kind are included here. Paper bags are a favorite of his, both iconic art symbols like the MOMA and Guggenheim Museum bags, and generic bags with “Thank You” on them. Other bags, from Bendel’s or Tiffany’s are status symbols. The words also carry personal meanings. The name Felix on Leaner could be any builder’s name stenciled on a ubiquitous construction barrier board, but it commemorates the late, much loved artist Felix Garcia Torres. Flat Top might refer back to Robert Gober’s version of trompe l’oeil cat litter.

Fairly soon after Seliger began making art he realized that he was only interested in objects, not their settings. He wanted an equivalence between image and support. His way of working is to make a very smooth surface on a large canvas using modeling paste over the gesso and under the paint. After the words or images are applied to the surface, often through stencils, the “painting” is folded and cut according to a carefully preplanned system and the object assembled.

Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York