C.H.I.
- Date
- 1969
- Material
- Leather, metal, wood, and nails
- made in
- United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Collection
- Modern and Contemporary Art
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- with base: 17 x 6 1/2 x 10 in. (43.2 x 16.5 x 25.4 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Edward Okun
- Rights
- © Nancy Grossman, Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York, NY
- Object Number
- 350:1980a,b
NOTES
Nancy Grossman painstakingly manipulated black leather to form a constricting mask around this head, covering both the eyes and mouth. Studded straps cross the face, evoking violent and sexual body experiences. Grossman has described such heads as self-portraits, although their masculine traits do not resemble the artist. Grossman has said,“I think I am specifically female and specifically male. And so is everyone…it’s much more arbitrary than people think.” Created in 1969, this work reflects the radical experimentation that characterized American culture at the time.
Provenance
Nancy Grossman (b. 1940)
1969
Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery, New York [1]
1969 - 1980
Dr. and Mrs. Edward Okun, St. Louis, MO, purchased from Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery [1]
1980 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Dr. and Mrs. Edward Okun [2]
Notes:
[1] Purchase reported by the donors. In 1969, the artist was represented by Cordier & Ekstrom, so ownership likely passed directly from the artist. SLAM acquisition worksheet completed by donors, December 30, 1980 [SLAM document files]
[2] Letter dated December 31, 1980 from Jack Cowart, Curator of 19th and 20th Century Art, to Dr. and Mrs. Edward Okun informing them that the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees accepted their gift of "chi" ["C.H.I"] [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 19, 1980.
1969
Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery, New York [1]
1969 - 1980
Dr. and Mrs. Edward Okun, St. Louis, MO, purchased from Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery [1]
1980 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Dr. and Mrs. Edward Okun [2]
Notes:
[1] Purchase reported by the donors. In 1969, the artist was represented by Cordier & Ekstrom, so ownership likely passed directly from the artist. SLAM acquisition worksheet completed by donors, December 30, 1980 [SLAM document files]
[2] Letter dated December 31, 1980 from Jack Cowart, Curator of 19th and 20th Century Art, to Dr. and Mrs. Edward Okun informing them that the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees accepted their gift of "chi" ["C.H.I"] [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 19, 1980.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.