Pleistocene Skeleton

Nancy Graves, Pleistocene Skeleton, 1970, steel, wax, marble dust and acrylic, 84 x 120 x 36 in. (213.4 x 304.8 x 91.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2005.8A-E, © 1970, The Nancy Graves Foundation

Artwork Details

Title
Pleistocene Skeleton
Artist
Date
1970
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
84 x 120 x 36 in. (213.4 x 304.8 x 91.4 cm)
Copyright
© 1970, The Nancy Graves Foundation
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums Description
steel, wax, marble dust and acrylic
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — other — skeleton
  • Animal — unspecified
  • History — prehistoric
Object Number
2005.8A-E
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2005.8A-E

Artwork Description

Pleistocene Skeleton plays with perceptions of what is natural and what is invented. Nancy Graves sculpted this deceptively realistic skeleton based on the internal structure of a camel. Graves's abiding fascination with these unique creatures (and nature more generally) began during her childhood visits to the local natural history museum where her father worked. In later years, Graves traveled to North Africa where she observed and filmed herds of camels.

Works by this artist (66 items)

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Steve Fitch, Sign, Highway 66, Sayre, Oklahoma, 1972, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.527, ©1972, Steve Fitch
Sign, Highway 66, Sayre, Oklahoma
Artist
Date1972
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Steve Fitch, Spaceship wallpaper in a bedroom in Yoder, eastern Wyoming, June 9, 1995, 1995, chromogenic print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by David S. Purvis, 2008.13.15, © 1995, Steve Fitch
Spaceship wallpaper in a bedroom in Yoder, eastern Wyoming,…
Artist
Date1995
chromogenic print
Not on view
Steve Fitch, Hallway view through a house in Ocate, eastern New Mexico, August 31, 1991, 1991, chromogenic print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by David S. Purvis, 2008.13.37, © 1991, Steve Fitch
Hallway view through a house in Ocate, eastern New Mexico,…
Artist
Date1991
chromogenic print
Not on view
Steve Fitch, Truckstop waitress, Highway 66, Gallup, New Mexico, 1972, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.521, ©1972, Steve Fitch
Truckstop waitress, Highway 66, Gallup, New Mexico
Artist
Date1972
gelatin silver print
Not on view

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