Julian Schnabel (American, born 1951). Rockets Redglare in Paradise, 1984. Oil, modeling paste on velvet, 108 x 102 in. (274.3 x 259.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Lindenbaum, 2000.54. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2000.54_transp3637.jpg)
Rockets Redglare in Paradise
The buildup of pigment and modeling clay on the velvet surface of Rockets Redglare in Paradise exemplifies the intense materiality of Julian Schnabel's paintings from the early 1980s, a decade that saw a revived interest in the medium of painting and in expressionist brushwork. Reminiscing in 1996, Schnabel recalled that he had encountered Michael Morra, a well-known downtown actor and standup comedian whose stage name was Rockets Redglare (taken from "The Star-Spangled Banner"), on his way to see the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. When Schnabel heard that Basquiat planned to make a painting of Rockets, Schnabel invited the performer to his studio instead and subsequently created this likeness.
ARTIST Julian Schnabel, American, born 1951
MEDIUM Oil, modeling paste on velvet
DIMENSIONS 108 x 102 in. (274.3 x 259.1 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS Contemporary Art
ACCESSION NUMBER 2000.54
CREDIT LINE Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Lindenbaum
RIGHTS STATEMENT © Julian Schnabel
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CAPTION Julian Schnabel (American, born 1951). Rockets Redglare in Paradise, 1984. Oil, modeling paste on velvet, 108 x 102 in. (274.3 x 259.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Lindenbaum, 2000.54. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2000.54_transp3637.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 2000.54_transp3637.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph