Jim Dine Mother & Son Enamel on Bronze 33” Sculpture, Rare Edition of 6

Artist: Jim Dine
Title: Mother & Son
Medium: Enamel on Bronze Sculpture
Dimensions: 33" x 23" x 11"
Edition: X/6
Years: 1996
Documentation: Gallery Certificate of Authenticity

Jim Dine's "Mother & Son" is a captivating sculpture that showcases the artist's affinity for iconic symbols and personal motifs. Renowned for his exploration of recurring imagery, Dine integrates the heart—one of his most celebrated and enduring symbols—into this evocative work. Cast in bronze and finished with vibrant enamel, the sculpture features two brilliantly colored parrots, one red and one green, perched atop a radiant gold heart. The juxtaposition of the lushly textured birds and the smooth, gleaming surface of the heart creates a dynamic interplay of color, material, and form.

Dine's heart motif has become synonymous with his practice, representing themes of love, passion, and human emotion. Here, the addition of the parrots —figures often associated with communication, vitality, and familial bonds — adds layers of narrative and symbolism to the work. The title, "Mother & Son", underscores the intimate connection between the two birds and invites viewers to reflect on relationships, nurturing, and legacy.

Executed in a limited edition of only six, this sculpture is a rare example of Dine's three-dimensional artistry, which builds upon his background in drawing and painting while bringing his recurring motifs to life in sculptural form. The bronze medium, enhanced by vibrant enamel, demonstrates the artist's mastery of materials and his ability to infuse even static objects with a sense of vitality and movement.

At 33 inches tall, "Mother & Son" is both monumental and intimate, making a bold visual statement while inviting close inspection of its intricate details. The edition size underscores its exclusivity, offering collectors an extraordinary opportunity to own a work that encapsulates Jim Dine's innovative approach to artmaking and his deep engagement with universal themes. This striking piece serves as a testament to the artist's enduring legacy and his ability to transform ordinary symbols into profound expressions of the human experience.

About Jim Dine

Jim Dine, born on June 16, 1935, in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a celebrated American artist whose innovative work spans painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking. Dine emerged as a key figure in the American art scene during the early 1960s, gaining recognition for his role in the Pop Art movement while also defying easy categorization. His art, characterized by its rich symbolism and personal resonance, continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Dine's artistic journey began with formal studies at the University of Cincinnati, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and Ohio University, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1957. After moving to New York City in the late 1950s, Dine became part of the dynamic art scene alongside contemporaries such as Claes Oldenburg and Allan Kaprow. He participated in pioneering "Happenings," performance art events that broke down the boundaries between art and life. These early experiments were instrumental in shaping his multidisciplinary approach.

Although often associated with Pop Art due to his incorporation of everyday objects into his works, Dine's art is deeply personal and rooted in autobiographical themes. Recurring motifs such as hearts, bathrobes, tools, and Venus de Milo figures populate his oeuvre, serving as symbols of identity, memory, and emotion. These objects, imbued with layers of meaning, reflect his fascination with the interplay between the mundane and the poetic.

Dine's "tool" works, for example, are emblematic of his childhood experiences in his family's hardware store, while the recurring image of a bathrobe, first appearing in the 1960s, serves as a surrogate self-portrait. Similarly, his heart motifs, often rendered in vivid colors or textured surfaces, have become an iconic element of his visual language, evoking themes of love, vulnerability, and humanity.

Throughout his career, Dine has demonstrated a mastery of various mediums. His drawings are celebrated for their technical virtuosity and expressive quality, while his sculptures, often cast in bronze, reveal his deep engagement with materiality. Printmaking also holds a significant place in his practice, with Dine producing an extensive body of etchings, lithographs, and woodcuts that reflect his innovative spirit and dedication to craftsmanship.

Dine's work has been exhibited extensively in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. His influence extends beyond the gallery, with public installations such as his "Venus de Milo" sculptures and large-scale hearts capturing the imagination of diverse audiences.

Despite his success, Dine's art remains deeply introspective and personal. He often describes his practice as a form of self-exploration, stating, “Art is the process of creating oneself." This philosophy underscores his enduring appeal, as his works invite viewers to contemplate their own experiences and emotions through the lens of his imagery.

Today, Jim Dine continues to be a prolific and influential figure in contemporary art. Residing primarily in Paris, he remains engaged in creating and exhibiting new works, solidifying his legacy as an artist whose vision transcends time and trends.