Joseph Beuys 'I like America & America likes me' 1974 Poster Rene Block Gallery in Soho, NYC
Joseph Beuys 'I like America & America likes me' 1974 Poster Rene Block Gallery in Soho, NYC
In recognition of the recently closed (March 23 2025) Joseph Beuys exhibition ‘In defense of nature’ at The Broad Museum, Los Angeles we pulled some classic Beuys Posters. Beuys was an Artist, Teacher, performance Artist, and Shaman that taught a new Post WWII generation of German Artists (Jörg Immendorff, Blinky Palermo, and Walter Dahn).
He engaged in the trauma of WWII and subjects ranging from the environment to Art theory. In this exhibit at the Block Gallery ‘I like America & America likes me' is his most famous and historically significant.
Wikipedia:
“In 1974, the German conceptual artist landed in a New York City airport where upon assistants wrapped him in felt and brought him to the René Block Gallery in SoHo in an ambulance. There Beuys spent three consecutive days, for eight hours a day, living with a live coyote.
A bed of straw was placed in a corner of the bare René Block Gallery. A flashlight was always kept on and a water dish kept full for the coyote. Beuys, who arrived wrapped in felt blankets, was supplied with extra felt blankets and the Wall Street Journal (delivered daily). Beuys attempted to connect with the animal by repeating symbolic gestures such as throwing leather gloves, gesticulating with a cane, and cloaking himself like a shepherd with the cane sticking out. The coyote was generally docile but occasionally hostile, tugging at the artist's felt cloak. Beuys occasionally played a triangle and a tape recording of turbines that was played by an unseen gallery attendant. Beuys copied the coyote, roaming when it roamed, resting when it rested. At the end of the performance, Beuys, still wrapped in felt, returned home to Germany in the same manner whence he came.”
This was Beuys first trip to the US as he had never wanted to visit as a protest against America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. A short film was made and can be found online. Its interesting that when Beuys enters the cage with the coyote the animal urinates on his Felt blanket! Beuys doesn’t react while wearing his trademark Fedora.
This is a serious piece of Art History signed by the Artist. Extremely Rare! (Last image is Beuys’ portrait by Warhol).
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Size: 22”.5 × 31.5” inches (57cm x 80cm)
Condition: Very good. No issues. Signed bottom right in Red pen.