Kelley, Mike | Bowling Bag, 1991 — available on Composition Gallery

Complete set, which includes a customized bowling shirt, bowling ball, bag and catalog Mike Kelley by William S. Bartman and Miyoshi Barosh. Engraved signature and number to bowling ball 'M. Kelley.

Bowling Bag by Mike Kelley, created in 1991, is a mixed media artwork that embodies the artist's fascination with Americana and popular culture. This set, produced in a limited edition of 50, includes a bright red customized bowling shirt, a matching red bowling ball with the artist’s engraved signature and edition number, a red and black bowling bag, and a catalog titled Mike Kelley by William S. Bartman and Miyoshi Barosh. The carefully curated objects, all in coordinated red tones, reference the nostalgic yet commercial aspects of bowling culture in the United States, blending art with a slice of everyday leisure. This piece reflects Kelley's exploration of identity, consumerism, and subcultures, turning familiar items into a cohesive sculptural installation that invites viewers to reconsider the cultural significance of ordinary objects.

Mike Kelley (USA, 1954–2012) was a groundbreaking artist known for his provocative multimedia works. Using materials like found objects, textiles, and video, Kelley explored themes of memory, identity, and cultural critique. His influential art, including installations and performances, challenged societal norms and redefined contemporary art practices.

Mike Kelley

Bowling Bag, 1991

Name: Bowling Bag, 1991
SKU: 4941

Form

Sculpture / Object

Sculpture / ObjectA sculpture is a three-dimension object made using any one of the basic sculpting processes. These include carving, casting, constructing or modeling. Carving materials may be bone, ivory, stone or wood. Modeling and casting use clay or wax, while constructions glue materials together.

Medium

Mixed Media

Mixed MediaMixed media refers to artwork that incorporates more than one medium within a single piece. Unlike multimedia art, which combines distinct forms of visual art and often includes elements like sound, video, or digital media, mixed media focuses on combining traditional art materials, such as paint, ink, and collage. Mixed media art allows artists to achieve a wide range of effects and textures by layering and blending different materials.

Edition

Edition of 50

Available works →

Authenticity Guaranteed
Insured Shipping
Online Since 2005

●

●Inventory 4941

●Signed

●Comes with gallery invoice and certificate

●Sell Us a Similar Artwork. Learn more.

Complete set, which includes a customized bowling shirt, bowling ball, bag and catalog Mike Kelley by William S. Bartman and Miyoshi Barosh. Engraved signature and number to bowling ball 'M. Kelley.

Mike Kelley

Bowling Bag, 1991

Sculpture / Object

Mixed Media

Currently Not Available

Pansy Metal/(...), 1989

Limited Edition Print

Sold

I make art to give other people my problems.
- Mike Kelley

Renowned for his socio-political works, Mike Kelley was a multi-faceted artist whose works encompassed the disciplines of performance art, installations, paintings and large-scale drawings, rendering him as one of the most influential artists of the Conceptual Art movement. Kelley became notable for his use of unconventional materials such as stuffed toys and found objects – More Love Hours Than Can Ever Be Repaid is perhaps his most recognised work of this kind; the piece is a haphazard assemblage of rag dolls and blankets that Kelley sourced from thrift shops. Societal values and norms were one of the biggest inspirations for Kelley’s works and he attempted to subvert pre-existing notions with his focus on themes such as sexuality, class, gender and criminality – one particular installation, Pay for Your Pleasure, featured a range of portraits of genius men including the likes of philosophers, poets and fellow artists; the theme was subverted with the final showing of a painting created by a convicted criminal.

Artwork by John Baldessari

What is conceptual art?

Sometimes referred to as Conceptualism, this is an art form where the idea(s) or concept(s) behind the work take precedence over material concerns and traditional aesthetics. Many conceptual artworks can be created by anyone simply by following written instructions. The concept or idea is the most essential aspect of the artwork.

Explore »

Language & Currency

Mike Kelley