Vanity and Time

Name/Title

Vanity and Time

Entry/Object ID

2012.24

Artwork Details

Medium

Oil on Canvas

Context

Credit Line: Gift of Gary T. Erbe in Memory of Muriel Koestler

Made/Created

Artist

Gary T. Erbe

Date made

2010

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Frame Size

Height

38-1/4 in

Width

48-1/4 in

Dimension Description

Image Size

Height

30 in

Width

40 in

Interpretative Labels

Label

Gary Erbe’s works explore a wide range of American pop culture, including the golden age of television, sports, cartoons, and culturally important social commentary. The discovery of trompe l’oeil painters had a significant impact on his work and provided a source of inspiration to him. Erbe’s work combines flat space forms that are exaggerated and enhanced by shadow, light, and color. The result is pure three-dimensional illusion and trompe l’oeil. He said, “Over the years, I have explored abstraction and cubism and how these modern principles can be integrated into trompe l’oeil.” Erbe’s work is meticulously planned. He organizes and creates assemblages which serve as models for his paintings. Even the frames are conceptualized and designed by him to enhance his work.