Tea for Two (The Collector)

1980

Tea for Two (The Collector), 1980. Robert Colescott (American, 1925–2009). Acrylic on canvas; overall: 215.5 x 185 x 5 cm (84 13/16 x 72 13/16 x 1 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Agnes Gund given in honor of Darren Walker 2017.128 © Robert H. Colescott Separate Property Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York) Robert Colescott is known for his figurative paintings that critique contemporary American culture. Using bright colors, expressive gestures, and visual puns, he debunks racial and gender stereotypes deeply ingrained in American culture and society. Tea for Two depicts a wealthy Black art collector surrounded by his collection that suggest artworks by Roy Lichtenstein, David Smith, Frank Stella, and other elite white artists whose work fetches high prices. Tea for Two features representations of artworks by Roy Lichtenstein, Barnett Newman, David Smith, and Frank Stella, among other artists.