Thomas Houseago

David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles
Acquired by the present owner from the above in 2006

Los Angeles, David Kordansky Gallery, Both Ends Burning, October - November 2005
London, Camden Arts Centre, Strange Events Permit Themselves the Luxury of Occurring, 2007 - 2008
London, Saatchi Gallery, 'The Shape of Things to Come', May - October 2011,  p. 56, illustrated and illustrated on the cover

Saatchi Gallery, The Shape of Things to Come: New Sculpture, New York, 2009, pp. 137 and 139, illustrated

This work is in very good and sound condition overall. There is fraying to the surface, graphite smudges and brown spots on the underside of the work, all of which appear inherent to the artist’s working method.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Thomas Houseago's work playfully subverts the expectation of sculpture. Drawing reference to a multitude of styles such as Classicism, Cubism, and Futurism, Houseago's intentionally clumsy forms trade the imperious and enduring qualities of traditional bronze or marble for the humble aesthetic of plaster and various found materials. Lacking the weighty physical stature associated with three dimensional media, Houseago's 'monumental' structures appear almost comically flimsy, reducing the grandiose weight of art history into sympathetic effigies. - Patricia Ellis