Francis Alÿs - The Sky In A Room New York Friday, August 11, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Provenance

    Galerie Lucien Bilinelli, Brussels
    Collection Claudia Gian Ferrariri, Milan
    Sotheby's, Milan, Their Sale, April 12, 2011, lot 97
    Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

  • Artist Biography

    Francis Alÿs

    Belgian / Mexican • 1959

    Born in Belgium, Francis Alÿs traveled to Mexico in 1986 as part of a French program to assist in the aftermath of the tragic 1985 earthquake, and has lived there ever since. Throughout his career, the artist has analyzed facets of everyday urban life using a variety of media including video, drawing, installation and public action. Sign Painting Project (1993-'97) is a prime example of the artist's interest in the sprawling urbanization of Mexico City. In this early series, Alÿs drew inspiration from professional Mexican sign painters (rotúlistas) who painted large billboard advertisements throughout the city. In response to these large colorful compositions, Alÿs employed a similar style in creating small-scale paintings of familiar objects and places.  Alÿs asked various rotúlistas to copy and enlarge his paintings, displaying his work and that of the rotúlista side-by-side. This series, like many of Alÿs' other works, illustrates the artist's concerns with such themes as collaboration, banality and originality.

    View More Works

34

Untitled

signed and dated "F. Alÿs 96-7" lower right
pencil, watercolor and tape on transparency laid on board
19 1/4 x 15 3/8 in. (39.1 x 48.9 cm.)
Executed in 1996-1997.

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Sale Enquiries Charlotte Pettit
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The Sky In A Room

New York Selling Exhibition 14 July – 11 August 2017