The Soap at Baton Rouge, 1990

Renowned for his large-scale, public installations, Claes Oldenburg is a multi-disciplined artist with works that encompass performance, drawing and writing, but most notably sculpture – his sculptures often depict every-day consumer items, as evidenced in such works as Lipstick (Ascending) On Caterpillar Tracks and Screw Arch. Often linked to the movements of Conceptual Art and Pop Art, Oldenburg was initially inspired by the theatrical aspects of the happenings conducted by fellow artists Jim Dine and Allan Kaprow – their work provided a refreshing alternative to the dominant abstract expressionism of the time and influenced his own foray into performance art, later guiding his interest and subsequent movement into sculpture, first soft, before becoming more substantial and large-scale. Throughout his career, Oldenburg has worked with numerous materials such as fiber glass, burlap, newspaper, chicken wire and plaster-soaked canvas. (Artist website)