James Rosenquist (b. 1933) is one of the most important contributors to American Pop Art. 

Shortly after moving to New York City in the 1950s to study fine art Rosenquist became a commercial painter working on advertising billboards. 

For nearly three years he worked with dedication as a commercial painter - which went on to be both the technical training and inspiration for his aesthetic as an artist. In the early 1960's he began exhibiting painted assemblages of elements from American advertising of the era. 

“Moon Box" features a stark black canopy incised with the American flag, pitched in front of a cool glacial landscape. The canopy is eerily anchored on a blank surface, perhaps a frozen lake, that hosts a crisp shadow of the moonlit American flag. The omnipresent flag disrupts the natural environment, asserting its authority over the landscape. 

This work is a fantastic example of Rosenquist’s environmentally conscious perspective, a theme explored throughout his career. By juxtaposing the bold American flag against the flowing arctic background, Rosenquist calls into question the ominous consequences of cultural and political interference with ecology. 

“Moon Box” is a unique example of Rosenquist’s signature pop-art style, this time taking on a more minimalistic approach. This work serves as a great reminder to maintain nature’s balance.

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“Moon Box”

USA, 1971

Lithograph

From an edition of 70

22.5”H 30”W (sheet)

Framed

Very good condition