Against the Grain: Contemporary Art from the Edward R. Broida Collection

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Joel Shapiro
Untitled
1980

Joel Shapiro. Untitled. 1980

Wood, 52 1/4 x 70 x 34" (132.7 x 177.8 x 86.4 cm). Gift of Edward R. Broida. © 2018 Joel Shapiro / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Artist, Joel Shapiro:   And a sculpture like this, you don't need a title. I've always been suspicious of poetic titles, and I really think to some extent they divert focus on the actual work. I saw this as one piece of many that I was doing, and I didn't want to elevate it or celebrate it in a way. I wanted it to be seen as an elated figure slapped together from chunks of wood, which would not be an appropriate title.