Western Eagle (Primary Title)
Red Grooms, American, born 1937 (Artist)
“If it’s shocking, well that’s okay. A work of art shouldn’t just lie there like something dead.” —Red Grooms
Though a longtime resident of New York City, Grooms possesses a love of Americana, lampooning sense of humor, and folk-art aesthetic that reveal a kinship with West Coast and Chicago artists. Grooms is best known for large-scale installations that depict frenetic urban scenes and for caricature-like portrayals of artists, sports heroes, and tourists. His keen yet often-sympathetic wit is wide reaching.
Western Eagle is one of a series of bronzes Grooms made of cowboys and Indians. In his typically raucous style, Grooms presents stereotypes of both figures. From underneath the comic surface, however, the artist’s commentary on exploitation emerges.
Selections from the Sydney and Frances Lewis Collection of the VMFA, Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, DE, March 29 - May 10, 1987
The Sydney and Frances Lewis Foundation Collection of the Late 20th Century Art, The Atheneaum, Alexandria, VA, May 7 – June 2, 1985
The Sydney and Frances Lewis Foundation Collection, Morehead State University, Morehead, KY, August 31 – October 16, 1981; Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, South Carolina, November 15, 1981 – January 10, 1982; Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS, January 31 – March 14, 1982; University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, March 28 – May 30, 1982; Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA, September 10 – October 31, 1982; Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA, November 14, 1982 – January 16, 1983; University Memorial Gallery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, January 30 – March 13, 1983; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY, March 25 – May 29, 1983; Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, VA, November 6 – December 17, 1983; Muscarelle Museum, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, February 4 – April 14, 1984; Huntington Galleries, Huntington, WV, June 2 – August 18, 1984
Red Grooms: Recent Works, Marlborough Gallery, New York, NY, April 3 – May 5, 1981
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.