Roy Lichtenstein: The Pioneer Figure in American Pop Art

Deceased for a quarter century by now, Roy Lichtenstein is a key figure in the world of pop art alongside Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. He was the man to bring the comic art style to the top, forever changing the critical view of commercial art as a “low” style. 

Emerging in the 1960s, when the art world was going through a significant transformation, Lichtenstein was at the forefront of the art revolution. Inspired by popular culture, he took comic books as an unending source of imagery, resonating with the masses and celebrating the aesthetics of mass production.

The comic book style incorporated the speech bubbles, bold colors, and Ben-Day dots the comic book readers are used to. Furthermore, mimicking commercial printing techniques, Lichtenstein transformed disposable imagery into elevated works of art. Together with his contemporaries, who elevated street art and brought a lot of novelties to the definition of art, they pushed the boundaries of what art can be.

The fusion of “high” and “low” art styles and their impact on contemporary art can’t be overstated. It opened the doors into the world of art for commission, exhibitions, and timelessness for many artists, and Eden Gallery is proud to represent his legacy in the form of pop art-infused artworks. 

David Kracov, the courier of joy and positivity with the dazzling vividness of his artworks, draws his inspiration from pop art, cartoons, and comic books. He incorporates a wide range of screaming comic book words like “omg!”, “boom!”, “wow!” etc. The renowned symbols are a tribute to pop culture and the role of comic books in it, and, of course, a homage to Lichtenstein as the pioneer of style. Artworks like Big Bang! and Love Is In The Air - Heart  are a joyful familiarity even more dazzling than Lichtenstein’s works, celebrating the color itself rather than being a parody. 

F&G, an artistic duo aiming to capture the essence of contemporary society, achieve this goal by applying their vast knowledge of pop culture and the world of comics. They often go as far as incorporating and mixing parts of 20th-century artworks into their sculptures, like Art 45 - Just Tributes, where the letter “R” is covered with small tributes to Lichtenstein. Similarly, his neon pink Pitchou Cute - American Toons and Pitchou Cute 90 - Bang Bang reference the style of the renowned artist, combined with the more contemporary figures of Betty Boop and Pikachu.

 Artistic education makes it impossible to avoid being influenced by artists of the past. Thus, contemporary artists embrace the inspiration and pay homage to the icons of the artistic world. Roy Lichtenstein, being one of the few most significant figures in pop culture, is an unfading inspiration and idol of contemporary art.