Tom Otterness

(American, born 1952)

Tom Otterness is a contemporary American artist. He is best known for his public sculptures, including his Playground on 630 West 42nd St. in New York. Another famous piece Life Underground (2004), inside the 14th Street-Eighth Avenue Station in New York, depicts small bronze figures engaged in various tasks. His cartoonish bronze figures have political undertones, often alluding to issues of money, sex, and class. “It’s a simple language; it’s a cartoon language; it’s smiley, button faces,” the artist said. “People aren’t thrown off by a language they don’t understand.” Born in Wichita, KS in 1952, he received his formal training at the Art Students League of New York and later at the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Independent Study Program. In 2004, after years of being forgotten, the artist’s Shot Dog Film (1977), which depicts Otterness adopting a dog from a shelter, tying it to a tree, and shooting it dead, was brought back into the public consciousness by the writer and artist Gary Indiana. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Tom Otterness News

Events and Parties

The Week in Art: Storm King Hosts Gala, Museum of Fine Arts Boston Parties All Night With 'The Clock'

by Sarah Cascone
The Week in Art: Storm King Hosts Gala, Museum of Fine Arts Boston Parties All Night With 'The Clock'
People

What We Learned About Famous Artists from Joe Fig’s New Studio Visits Book

by Brian Boucher
What We Learned About Famous Artists from Joe Fig’s New Studio Visits Book
Art & Exhibitions

Mister Artsee Truck Delivers Supplies to Art-Starved Kids

by Rozalia Jovanovic
Mister Artsee Truck Delivers Supplies to Art-Starved Kids

Tom Otterness Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Tom Otterness (320 results)
Sitting Man II, 1978; Documenta 7, 1982 2, 1978

Tom Otterness

Sitting Man II, 1978; Documenta 7, 1982 2, 1978

Sale Date: May 11, 2015

Auction Closed

Cone Figure; and Untitled (14th street) (2..., 2001

Tom Otterness

Cone Figure; and Untitled (14th street) (2..., 2001

Sale Date: April 21, 2015

Auction Closed

Educating the Rich (Reading Black), 1993

Tom Otterness

Educating the Rich (Reading Black), 1993

Sale Date: November 20, 2014

Auction Closed

Educating the Rich (Man and Woman Black), 1993

Tom Otterness

Educating the Rich (Man and Woman Black), 1993

Sale Date: November 20, 2014

Auction Closed

Educating the Rich (Man and Woman Red), 1992

Tom Otterness

Educating the Rich (Man and Woman Red), 1992

Sale Date: November 20, 2014

Auction Closed

Educating the Rich (Reading Red), 1992

Tom Otterness

Educating the Rich (Reading Red), 1992

Sale Date: November 20, 2014

Auction Closed

Four works of art: Death Angel II, 1979

Tom Otterness

Four works of art: Death Angel II, 1979

Sale Date: November 15, 2014

Auction Closed

Seated Figure * Vertical Figures (2 works), 1978

Tom Otterness

Seated Figure * Vertical Figures (2 works), 1978

Sale Date: November 12, 2014

Auction Closed

Mama Bear Cookie Jar, 2010

Tom Otterness

Mama Bear Cookie Jar, 2010

Sale Date: October 23, 2014

Auction Closed

Educating the Rich (set of 2), 1992

Tom Otterness

Educating the Rich (set of 2), 1992

Sale Date: October 7, 2014

Auction Closed

Life and Death, The Humble King,..., 1982–1991

Tom Otterness

Life and Death, The Humble King,..., 1982–1991

Sale Date: September 29, 2014

Auction Closed

Commemorative Plaque, 1980

Tom Otterness

Commemorative Plaque, 1980

Sale Date: August 29, 2014

Auction Closed

Female Acrobats and Male Acrobats, 1983

Tom Otterness

Female Acrobats and Male Acrobats, 1983

Sale Date: July 24, 2014

Auction Closed

Educating the Rich (set of 2), 1993

Tom Otterness

Educating the Rich (set of 2), 1993

Sale Date: July 16, 2014

Auction Closed

Three evils and cone figure, 2006

Tom Otterness

Three evils and cone figure, 2006

Sale Date: June 12, 2014

Auction Closed

Foot, 1992

Tom Otterness

Foot, 1992

Sale Date: May 17, 2014

Auction Closed

Free Speech, 2008

Tom Otterness

Free Speech, 2008

Sale Date: April 28, 2014

Auction Closed

Artist at Work, 1994

Tom Otterness

Artist at Work, 1994

Sale Date: December 23, 2013

Auction Closed

Princess with Magic Fish, 2003

Tom Otterness

Princess with Magic Fish, 2003

Sale Date: December 5, 2013

Auction Closed

Couple II, 1978

Tom Otterness

Couple II, 1978

Sale Date: November 16, 2013

Auction Closed

Covered wagon, 1998

Tom Otterness

Covered wagon, 1998

Sale Date: November 14, 2013

Auction Closed

Snail, 2004

Tom Otterness

Snail, 2004

Sale Date: November 12, 2013

Auction Closed

Penny with Shoes; Woman Without Head on Stack of

Tom Otterness

Penny with Shoes; Woman Without Head on Stack of

Sale Date: November 2, 2013

Auction Closed

Small Visionary, 1993–1995

Tom Otterness

Small Visionary, 1993–1995

Sale Date: October 28, 2013

Auction Closed

English (US)

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