Roy Lichtenstein: Monet’s Garden Goes POP!

Selby Gardens
Sarasota, Florida

By: Rick Brown
Photos: Dan Eley

Annually … at least for the past three or four … Selby Gardens has hosted a small yet satisfying exhibit of premier classic artists’ lesser known works. The exhibit space is small making it a very intimate experience. To accentuate the beautiful conservatory’s grounds, the gardens are enhanced with displays emulating the featured pieces.

Last year Salvador Dali graced Selby with surrealistic delight such as baby grand pianos in trees. Unfortunately, because of Covid 19, the exhibit was forced to close early. I did get the chance to cover it early and you can see highlights here: Hello Dali!!!

Of course, the Salvador Dali Museum is a mere hour north of Sarasota in St. Petersburg. Ray Lichtenstein, 2021’s featured artist, is a hometown boy for me, albeit a distant cousin. I spent 31 years working for The Ohio State University Libraries. Mr. Lichtenstein studied at O.S.U. and eventually taught there for a number of years. And our library system was a pioneer in the curation of comic and graphic arts, culminating on the birth of a wonderful library dedicated to the genre.

Selby Gardens again have graced their grounds with fun, fresh faux art celebrating the artist’s work. Lichtenstein’s interpretation of some of Monet’s most famous impressionist pieces is, at once, both seemingly contradictory in style while embracingly familiar. The stroll through the grounds is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. And if you can’t make it down to Sarasota, please enjoy it here virtually.