Dancing Couple

Steve Ashby, Dancing Couple, ca. 1973, carved and painted pine, found objects, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.51
Copied Steve Ashby, Dancing Couple, ca. 1973, carved and painted pine, found objects, 9 3⁄4 x 4 3⁄8 x 2 1⁄2 in. (24.8 x 11.1 x 6.4 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.51

Artwork Details

Title
Dancing Couple
Artist
Date
ca. 1973
Location
Dimensions
9 3⁄4 x 4 3⁄8 x 2 1⁄2 in. (24.8 x 11.1 x 6.4 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted pine, found objects
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure group
  • Recreation — dancing
  • Figure female — full length
  • Figure male — full length
Object Number
1997.124.51
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.51

Artwork Description

Steve Ashby cut out his sculptures from pieces of plywood and decorated them with model airplane paints and found objects. In Dancing Couple he made the wide, staring eyes by painting two thumbtacks. At first glance, the couple appear to be dancing, but on closer inspection the man’s leering expression and the woman’s defensive pose suggest a more sinister relationship.