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Art

Your Afternoon Snack Served Up by Claes Oldenburg

Need an afternoon snack? Check out what Pop artist Claes Oldenburg has for you at MoMA.

Hrag Vartanian

Hrag Vartanian

— 4 min read
Some of the food items from Oldenburg's "Mouse Museum," which is on display in MoMA' atrium.
Some of the food items from Oldenburg’s “Mouse Museum,” which is on display in MoMA’ atrium.

“The two forms humans are attracted to is a penis and a gun … and that’s essentially a right angle, which is everywhere, specially in New York.” —Claes Oldenburg during the press preview of Claes Oldenburg: The Street and The Store at the Museum of Modern Art, Tuesday, April 9, 2013

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While Oldenburg may be obsessed with penises and gun, though he conveniently suggested everyone else was, another obsession in his work is obviously food.

Even though the new Oldenburg show at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) doesn’t open until later this weekend, we thought we’d deliver an afternoon snack of culinary surprises found in the Pop artist’s new exhibition.

On display at the new show are a big range of the objects from his infamous The Store project (1960–62) and its array of food stuffs, whether soft sculpture or expressionistic plaster (not exactly your daily food groups).

From burgers to ice cream cones, there’s something for everyone eager to get over the afternoon hump. But watch your calories, remember this was the 1960s, so there’s no real light anything.

“Light” Menu

First off, the hostess with the mostest, Robin Cembalest, executive editor of Art News magazine is serving up “Saumon avec mayonnaise” (1962) realness.

Robin Cembalest with "Saumon avec mayonnaise" (1964)
Robin Cembalest with “Saumon avec mayonnaise” (1964)
"Tartines" (1964) in the collection of Martin Z. Margulies
“Tartines” (1964) in the collection of Martin Z. Margulies
"Green Salad" (1962) in the collection of The Sonnabend Collection
“Green Salad” (1962) in the collection of The Sonnabend Collection
An oversized "Baked Potato #1" (1963) from the collection of the LA Country Museum of Art
An oversized “Baked Potato #1” (1963) from the collection of the LA Country Museum of Art
"Fried Egg in Pan" (1961) in the Mugrabi Collection
“Fried Egg in Pan” (1961) in the Mugrabi Collection
"Two Loaves of Bread" (1961) in the collection of Avi and Molly Straus.
One of the “Two Loaves of Bread” (1961) in the collection of Avi and Molly Straus.

Main Course

"Floor Burger" (1962), wait, does this mean you have to eat it off the floor? Ew.
“Floor Burger” (1962), wait, does this mean you have to eat it off the floor? Ew.
Extra hungry? "Two Cheeseburgers, with Everything (Dual Hamburgers)" (1962) in the collection of MoMA
Extra hungry? “Two Cheeseburgers, with Everything (Dual Hamburgers)” (1962) in the collection of MoMA
"Giant BLT (Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich)" (1963) in the collection of the Whitney Museum
“Giant BLT (Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich)” (1963) in the collection of the Whitney Museum
"Hamburger with Pickle and Olive" (1962) in the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art, LA
“Hamburger with Pickle and Olive” (1962) in the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art, LA
"Frying Pan with Pork Chops" (1961–62) in the collection of Mrs. David Wingate
“Frying Pan with Pork Chops” (1961–62) in the collection of Mrs. David Wingate
"Bacon and Egg" (1965) in the Kravis Collection
“Bacon and Egg” (1965) in the Kravis Collection

Drink Menu

Yes, “drink” singular. Do you want 7up or not? And honestly, we don’t know how you’re going to drink it.

"7-Up" (1961) from the collection of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian

Actually, there’s also coffee but it doesn’t look that good.

"Coffee Cup" (1962) in the collection of David and Susan Gersh, LA
“Coffee Cup” (1962) in the collection of David and Susan Gersh, LA

Dessert

And let’s not forget dessert. In the wise words of Oldenburg:

“Both pastry and art are forms of pleasure. You combine them and you double the pleasure.”

How right you are.

"Pastry Case, I" (1961–62) in the collection of MoMA
“Pastry Case, I” (1961–62) in the collection of MoMA
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“Glass Case with Pies (Assorted Pie in a Case)” (1962) in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
"Glass Case with Pies (Assorted Pie in a Case)" (1962) in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
“Small Yellow Pie” (1961) in the collection of the artist
"Floor Cake" (1962) in the collection of MoMA
“Floor Cake” (1962) in the collection of MoMA
"Floor Cone" (1962) in the collection of MoMA
“Floor Cone” (1962) in the collection of MoMA
Various desserts in Oldenburg's "Mouse Museum"
Various desserts in Oldenburg’s “Mouse Museum”
Left, "Banana Sundae" (1963) in the Kravis Collection, and (right) some dessert in the "Mouse Museum"
Left, “Banana Sundae” (1963) in the Kravis Collection, and (right) some dessert in the “Mouse Museum”

I’ll get you your check right now, but make sure to leave a tip.

Claes Oldenburg: The Street and The Store and Claes Oldenburg: Mouse Museum/Ray Gun Wing opens at the Museum of Modern Art (35 West 53rd Street, Midtown, Manhattan) on Sunday, April 14 and continues until August 5.