Untitled (Autobiography), two casts, 1980-81. Both 445x375 mm; 17 1/2x14 3/4 inches. Both an edition of 30. Both signed, numbered and dated in pencil, lower right * Untitled (Artist's Fingers and Face), 1981. 505x410 mm; 19 7/8x16 1/8 inches. Artist's proof, aside from a likely edition of 30. Signed, dated and inscribed "AP" in pencil, lower right.
Each ex-collection private collection, New Jersey.
Masks and guises in the Parisian-born, Venezuelan-American sculptor Marisol's (Marisol Escobar, 1930-2016) work let the artist appropriate different female identities, usually drawn from upper and middle class gender roles. She was described as an "enigma" in the press throughout her career, nevertheless the majority of her sculptural œuvre, like the current works, used casts of her own face. Bridging artistic movements and avoiding style-defining characterization, Marisol mimicked the imaginary construct of what it means to be a woman, as well as the role of the 'artist,' utilizing the spontaneous gesture of expression of Action Painting along with the cool and collected artistic intent of Pop Art.
