40 - ALEXANDER KOSOLAPOV (RUSSIAN-AMERICAN B. 1943)

ALEXANDER KOSOLAPOV (RUSSIAN-AMERICAN B. 1943) Wood Construction, 1970 carved and painted wood relief 28 x 23.8 cm (11 x 9 3/8 in.) signed, dated and inscribed on reverse; with Soviet export clearance stamp on reverse PROVENANCE Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner LOT NOTES Made in Moscow in 1970, this construction predates the Sots Art objects for which Alexander Kosolapov became famous. Born in Moscow in 1943, he trained in the monumental sculpture department of the Moscow Higher School of Art and Industry (the former Stroganov), graduating in 1968. Until his emigration he worked closely with Leonid Sokov and Boris Orlov. Here, chunky blackened forms, faceted and adzed by hand, project from a white-painted architectural plinth. The work shows the sculptor’s grounding in carved wood that underlies his first pop objects of 1972–74, painted wood pieces such as Kefir and Doorbell (both 1972), now in the Norton and Nancy Dodge Collection at the Zimmerli Art Museum. In 1975 Kosolapov became one of the first artists of his circle to emigrate to New York, where he developed his celebrated fusions of Soviet and American icons, including Lenin Coca-Cola and Mickey Lenin. Keywords: Sots Art, Soviet Nonconformist Sculpture, Early Kosolapov, Painted Wood Relief, Moscow 1970, Constructivist Relief N.B. Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions & Appraisals LLC and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions & Appraisals, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.