Moderne

Claes Oldenburg

Born 1929 Died 2022 Works span 1962–1991

Claes Oldenburg: Sculpting Everyday Life into Monumental Art Claes Oldenburg (1929-2022) stands as a towering figure in 20th and 21st century sculpture, transforming familiar objects—butterflies, hamburgers, clothespins, telephones—into colossal sculptures that challenge perceptions of scale and invite contemplation. Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Oldenburg’s artistic journey began with explorations of Surrealism and Dada before establish…

dated works

chapters

1962

first work

1991

last work

Chronological Journey

The Lifeline

Scroll through Claes Oldenburg's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.

Drag or scroll to travel through time

Chapters — Career Periods

The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups Claes Oldenburg's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.

Thumbnails — Dated Works

Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.

Colour Band — Movement Drift

The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.