a bronze santa holding a christmas tree shaped butt plug painted in red

Paul McCarthy

Santa with Butt Plug Bronze 11.4 inches

€25,000

Edition of 25

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With an assembly of red bronzes, Paul McCarthy imparts a lewd lesson on the duality of an object.

From early performances to pop-up Parisian confectioners and 80-foot inflatables, sex toys and Santa Claus have a storied past in the work of seminal American artist Paul McCarthy. Short of a signature, the two belong to a perverse lexicon of icons and archetypes which McCarthy has revisited, re-invented and combined at will over the course of his five decade career. In this case, questioning the commodification of Christmas and the associations of a derided object which – in another context – might be considered a masterstroke of minimalism.

Santa with Butt Plug Bronze 11.4 inches revisits a 2001 public sculpture commissioned by the city of Rotterdam. A foam replica, created during the casting process and subsequently left to rot for five years outside McCarthy’s studio, provides the form for a new and smaller incarnation. Cracks, fissures and imperfections are preserved as testament to the artwork’s ongoing history. A sanguine finish completes the edition – heightening the fidelity of its surface and fulfilling McCarthy’s vision for his original, large-scale Santa.

For the full picture, read an accompanying journal – Butt plugs, Santa Claus & Paul McCarthy.

artist wearing a bulbous fake nose and gloves with large, sausage-like fingers – covered in paint

Paul McCarthy

1 collaboration

Paul McCarthy concocts a twisted American Dream like no other. He weaves sculpture, film and installation into exquisitely constructed scenarios. Throughout, there are nods to all corners of society – from Disney and Donald Trump, to pornography and war. In the 1970s McCarthy became known for his performances and videos. These early works launched McCarthy into the limelight where, through a process of non-stop reinvention, he’s remained ever since. Bossy Burger (1991) saw the artist smearing ketchup and mayonnaise all over himself. Painter (1995) is a 50-minute-long spoof of the art world’s underbelly.

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Reviews from Avant collectors

an amazing artwork. my second Tomas Sanchez. very happy to have it framed bu you. thank you.
Review of Inner Love
hard to give an advice to AA, everything its perfect! thanks
Review of It Wasn't Me
Looks really great - high quality print arrived in perfect condition. Thank You!
Review of Guardian
You are the best in the business and the nicest people to do business with. Thank you!!
Review of Portrait and Head
i loved the details of the note and gloves. well done!
Review of Ringers #962: The LACMA Iterations
Excellent process as usual
Review of Scaffold
The framing was beautiful and it was the best packaged art piece I have ever received.
Review of March Snowstorm
The Avant Arte team is all around top notch. Excellent communication and everything is always packaged so thoughtfully. A+
Review of Ringers #962: The LACMA Iterations

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