Description:

Tom Friedman
American, (b. 1965)
My Heroes, or "Some of my Favorite Things" 1987
charcoal on paper
Tom Friedman is an internationally renowned contemporary American conceptual artist who was born here in St. Louis, Missouri. Earning his BFA from Washington University and his MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago, he is currently represented by Stephen Friedman Gallery (London) and Luhring Augustine (New York). He has enjoyed solo exhibitions at many museums and institutions around the world including Gagosian and MOMA.

Drawn in 1987, this charcoal work on paper showcases some of the artist's favourite heroes or favourite things. The Pee-wee Herman character, played by Paul Reubens (1952-2023), clearly serves as Friedman's main hero here and as the only clearly identifiable person in the work. Based on the artist's repertoire of heroes and people from his own imagination as well as the eccentric kinds of objects available to him in the 1980s, the drawing is delivered in a kind of magical blur with his favourite kinds of things blended together and including: an ‘80s black and white checkerboard floor, a vintage pop-up slinky toy with a cat face, a few pairs of scissors, a large piece of paper, keys, a pencil, several paint brushes ready to paint with, a drum and drumsticks, a balloon, and other miscellaneous items and shapes mixed together in such a way as to create a sense of space through ideas. The drawing evokes humour, childlike wonder and many philosophical values as it seduces the viewer to explore what can be seen and identified while also making the viewer question their own favourite heroes and things. Another clear object in the central part of the piece is what appears to be Pee-wee's hand waving goodbye at us, something that evokes a different and deeper meaning now that Reubens has recently passed away.

Exhibited: Extensions of Music, Charcoal Drawings and Paintings by Tom Friedman, Artists on the Corner, 802 DeMun Ave., Clayton, MO

  • Dimensions: 45 x 35 inches
  • Medium: charcoal on paper

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September 16, 2023 10:00 AM CDT
St. Louis, MO, US

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