Robert Longo is known for his large-scale, hyper-realistic drawings that consider power, authority, and social unrest. He has depicted scenes from the Occupy Wall Street movement, the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris, Black Lives Matter protests, and refugee migrations. Longo repurposes mass media images and relies on photographs and art historical works for inspiration. He often uses a monochromatic palette, carefully building his charcoal surfaces to create a sense of depth and contrast. Study of Pandemic - part of a body of work based on the devastation caused by Coronavirus - features a colony of bats in flight over an empty sports stadium. The work captures the fear and foreboding of the time.
ROBERT LONGO (American, 1953)
Ink and charcoal on vellum
58.7 x 53.3cm
Acquired in 2021
