Steve Wolfe on Paper

by Carter E. Foster, Franklin Sirmans

Working in the tradition of trompe l'oeil , Steve Wolfe (b. 1955) creates careful replicas of classic books, worn album covers, and vinyl records, crafted from modeling paste, screenprints, drawings, and many other media. Wolfe’s reproductions embrace the tattered jackets, aged paper, and worn corners that come with the consumption of the culture within. These marks become records of time and memory representing the intersection of abstract thought and physical substance. With painstakingly composed illusion, these objects fall within the tradition of trompe l'oeil and blur the line between everyday object and art. This book focuses on Wolfe’s works on paper, including drawings and pieces that combine drawing with painting, collage, and printmaking. Although his work is included in numerous museum collections and has appeared in several group shows, this is the first major publication on this important emerging artist.

Distributed for the Whitney Museum of American Art and The Menil Collection

Exhibition Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (9/09 – 11/09) The Menil Collection, Houston (4/12/10 – 8/15/10)

102 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew nothing of Steve Wolfe's artwork till I picked up this book today. Ok, if you are a book and vinyl lover you are going to love this book - because Wolfe loves the same thing as you do. And what he does is do exact reproductions of classic and cool book covers. You can smell the obsession off the pages of this book. Beautifully produced, beautifully put together - and I think this is a major work. Masterpiece.