Rob Pruitt & Jack Early
Rob Pruitt & Jack Early
American, born in 1964 & 1962
In the 1980s and early 1990s, Rob Pruitt and Jack Early formed a dazzling artistic partnership. As impertinent anthropologists, they developed an eclectic range of work aimed at portraying the average American teenager. Using symbolic objects from consumer culture, such as the drinks can, and targeted universes such as heavy metal, their installations, sculptures and paintings crystallise the aspirations and desires of a generation.
The use of immediately identifiable references encounters, in the work of Pruitt and Early, profound and delicate issues in society. Their works question the notions of gender and race, as well as adolescent sexuality and spirit of rebellion. Their collaboration ended in 1992 following the exhibition “Red, Black, Green, Red, White and Blue” at the Leo Castelli gallery, which was labelled racist and highlighted taboos in American society.
Pruitt and Early’s work was shown for the first time by the Pinault Collection during the 2009 exhibition "Mapping the Studio" at the Palazzo Grassi.
The use of immediately identifiable references encounters, in the work of Pruitt and Early, profound and delicate issues in society. Their works question the notions of gender and race, as well as adolescent sexuality and spirit of rebellion. Their collaboration ended in 1992 following the exhibition “Red, Black, Green, Red, White and Blue” at the Leo Castelli gallery, which was labelled racist and highlighted taboos in American society.
Pruitt and Early’s work was shown for the first time by the Pinault Collection during the 2009 exhibition "Mapping the Studio" at the Palazzo Grassi.
