This past weekend I visited the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio. They recently had an exhibition named “Marisol: A Retrospective” between March 2nd and June 2nd of 2024. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum organizes this exhibition and includes 244 works addressing several themes such as politics, gender, and ecological and societal concerns. Marisol’s art defines the 1960s and she amassed popularity through her unique perspective and innovation of the time.
The Toledo Museum of Art’s website writes about the exhibition:
“Marisol: A Retrospective” will introduce visitors to the multiplicity of her practice. Although portraiture and self-portraiture anchor many of her most recognizable works, her contributions in the 1960s and 1970s were vast and varied. The exhibition will explore the breadth of her work, including her underwater films and photographs and her public art practice, which are often overlooked.”
I was astonished at the range of mediums she used. She had pieces including colored pencils, pastels, photography, wood, bronze, glass, plaster, etc. It appeared as if she had touched nearly every medium of art and been successful within it.
One piece on view that stood out to me was The Funeral, 1996, made of paint, crayon, and oil on wood. It depicts former President John F. Kennedy’s funeral procession with a large sculpture of JFK Jr.’s famous salute behind it. She thought this moment was incredibly impactful and that it was important to draw attention to it.
Below are more of the pieces from the collection that stood out to me.
Marisol was a female artist who gained popularity within her lifetime. This is important to acknowledge because this does not happen very often for women. Her innovation within the art scene allowed her to gain a prominent voice to speak on gender, politics, and different societal issues.
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