Martin Puryear
Aso Oke

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Artist Martin Puryear (American, born 1941)American, born 1941

CultureAmerican

Titles

Aso Oke

Date2019

MediumBronze, edition 2/3

Dimensions84 × 104 1/2 × 73 in., 1325lb. (213.4 × 265.4 × 185.4 cm, 601kg)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment

Object number2020.116

Current Location

The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building

Arrivals Hall

On view

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Department

Modern and Contemporary Art

Object Type

SCULPTURE

DescriptionMartin Puryear’s sculpture alludes to habitats, human figures, and everyday objects, or fuses these allusions, always reflecting a profound understanding of form, structure, and materials. The monumental bronze Aso Oke, first featured in Puryear’s presentation at the 2019 Venice Biennale, is in the shape of a traditional aso oke, the ceremonial Nigerian cap with a crown that flips over the ear. Just as the aso oke has become a symbol of African political independence, Puryear’s sculpture reflects his interest in the symbolic significance of everyday objects, in particular, the ways these items convey liberty, an enduring theme for the artist.
ProvenanceThe artist; [Matthew Marks Gallery, New York]; purchased by the MFAH, 2020.
Exhibition History"Martin Puryear: Liberty/Libertà," United States Pavilion, Giardini della Biennale, Venice, May 11–November 24, 2019.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Signed and stamped: M Puryear, 2/3, [W]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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