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James Rosenquist: His Billboards Past

James Rosenquist, famous for his work as a (pop) artist, owes a lot to his humble sign painting past.

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James Rosenquist: His Billboards Past
Detail of James Rosenquist, Win a New House This Christmas (Contest), 1964. Oil on canvas. 58 x 58 inches (147.3 x 147.3 cm). Private Collection, New York. © Estate of James Rosenquist / Licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

The late pop artist James Rosenquist (1933-2017) is the subject of Acquavella Galleries’ ‘His American Life‘ exhibition, through which I have learned of his past as one of America’s leading billboard artists. It was this instagram post from the gallery that first caught my eye and I had to follow up and learn more about his artistic and sign painting story.