Famous Neo-Dada artist Robert Rauschenberg died Monday in Tampa, according to Jennifer Joy, his representative at PaceWildenstein gallery in New York.  The Associated Press ran the story today.

Rauschenberg was an American artist who came onto the scene in the 1950s transition from abstract expressionism to pop art.  Most known for his “combines,” combinations of non-traditional materials and objects from modern life, Rauschenberg also sculpted and choreographed.  In 1984, he won a Grammy Award for best album package for the Talking Heads album “Speaking in Tongues.”

Rauschenberg, along with Jasper Johns, is often cited as being a forerunner of American Pop Art.  By 1962, Rauschenberg was beginning to implement the silkscreen method for transferring photographs onto canvas much like Andy Warhol.  Rauschenberg was a supporter of the artists who exploited popular culture wholesale, such as Andy Warhol did with tomato soup cans and Roy Lichtenstein with comic books.

When asked about dying, Rauschenberg is quoted as saying, “I don’t ever want to go.  I don’t have a sense of great reality about the next world; my feet are too ugly to wear those golden slippers.  But I’m working on my fear of it.  And my fear is that something interesting will happen, and I’ll miss it.”

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to view some of Rauschenberg’s work at MOCA Jacksonville, which is a part of the museum’s permanent collection.  In my opinion, Rauschenberg is one of the greatest American artists that lived.  His influence on the American art movement in the 1950’s and 60’s is immeasurable.  His impact on the art world will be missed but never forgotten.

Thanks to Joey for letting me post this even though its relativity to UJ is not apparent.

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