Appropriation, commodification, and the body are some themes from the ’80s art-world discourse that artist Marilyn Minter embraced in her paintings from that time period, a selection of which comprise a new exhibit at New York’s Team Gallery. The pieces on display are taken from two bodies of work, Minter’s Big Girls/Little Girls series and her Porn Grids, a representation of “money shots” from porn flicks. Minter’s ben-day dot images on enamel and metal surfaces of glamorous women, prim girls, and erect penises are suffused with an undercurrent of dark optimism. While her images were controversial when first shown in the mid-to-late ’80s, her intent was to explore the pro-sex feminism that was just beginning to take shape earlier in the decade. Click through for a slideshow of some of her best raunchy, glam, and always rigorous output.
Marilyn Minter, Big Girls, 1986. Enamel on canvas. Two parts. 80 x 112 inches overall. 80 x 90 inches, 30 x 22 inches. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery
Marilyn Minter, Little Girls #3, 1987. Enamel on canvas. Two panels. 47 x 66 inches overall. 47 x 32 inches each. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery
Marilyn Minter, Double Fun House Mirror, 1991. Enamel on canvas. Three panels. 68 x 86 inches overall. 68 x 42 inches, 22 x 42 inches, 43 x 42 inches. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery
Marilyn Minter, Little Girls #1, 1986. Enamel on canvas. Three panels. 68 x 86 inches overall. 68 x 42 inches, 22 x 42 inches, 43 x 42 inches. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery
Marilyn Minter, The Singers, 1992. Enamel, Mylar paper, and rivets on metal. 60 x 36 inches. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery
Marilyn Minter, Little Girls, 1987. Enamel on canvas. 38 x 62 inches. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery
Marilyn Minter, Porn Grid (#1), 1989. Enamel on metal. 25 x 31 inches. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery
Marilyn Minter, Porn Grid (#2), 1989. Enamel on metal. 25 x 31 inches. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery
Marilyn Minter, Porn Grid (#3), 1989. Enamel on metal. 25 x 31 inches. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery
Marilyn Minter, Porn Grid (#4), 1989. Enamel on metal. 25 x 31 inches. © Marilyn Minter Courtesy Team Gallery