Locations 1969

Richard Artschwager's "Locations" isn't painting in the traditional sense, but it’s definitely playing with surface, texture, and how we see. I imagine Artschwager thinking: what if a painting could jump off the wall and become, well, a thing in the world? These objects—the shiny metal, the blue box with something fuzzy inside—they're like characters in a visual poem. That blue box? Feels like a mini-world, contained but also hinting at something bigger. Then there are the shapes— those rounded rectangles or pill shapes are repeated through the objects, like a motif running through a song. Artschwager reminds me that art doesn't have to be one thing. It can be slippery, funny, and a little bit strange. It is like he’s saying, "Hey, let's not take ourselves too seriously, but let's think about what we're looking at." So, have a look and let your mind wander. Where do these “Locations” take you?