When Pop Art Grew Roots: Marisol’s Wooden Icons and the Faces They Carried
Marisol, born María Sol Escobar, carved her way into Pop Art with a twist—her sculptures didn’t just reflect popular culture, they embodied it, often quite literally. Raised between Paris, Caracas, and New York, Marisol absorbed a mosaic of influences, from pre-Columbian art to American folk traditions. Her signature works—life-sized, blocky wooden figures—often bore her own features, a choice that doubled as both self-portrait and social commentary.
Throughout the 1960s, Marisol’s playful yet pointed assemblages tackled issues from gender roles to war, using everything from found photographs to cast faces and hands. Her art shifted in the 1970s, as she turned to the ocean for inspiration, sculpting glossy, oversized fish with human faces—subtle nods to environmental anxieties and the militarization of the seas.
Despite her influence, Marisol’s legacy faded from the spotlight, but a sweeping retrospective now restores her vibrant, questioning presence. Her work stands as a reminder: sometimes, the most familiar faces are the ones that challenge us most.
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