David Salle Norman, Oklahoma, b. 1952
Tree of Life #15, 2021
Oil on linen
213.5 x 243.5 cm
84 x 95 7/8 in
84 x 95 7/8 in
© 2021 David Salle / Courtesy Fundación AMMA
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Employing an aesthetic reminiscent of classic American comic books, David Salle depicts a scene—painted in black and white—in which two women gaze in astonishment at a man, clad only in a swimsuit, as he engages in an activity involving seeds. These figures are partially obscured by the composition's sole colored element: a leafy tree upon which rests a caterpillar covered in stinging hairs.
David Salle’s pictorial language is rooted in postmodernism and frequently employs appropriation. The artist works with images from widely diverse sources; when superimposed, they suggest movement and vitality, while also evoking new meanings. His dense, eclectic imagery often serves a frenetic narrative that all but engulfs the viewer.
David Salle’s pictorial language is rooted in postmodernism and frequently employs appropriation. The artist works with images from widely diverse sources; when superimposed, they suggest movement and vitality, while also evoking new meanings. His dense, eclectic imagery often serves a frenetic narrative that all but engulfs the viewer.