Jim Dine is an American pop artist who was born in Ohio in 1935 and was known for his painting, drawing, sculpting and printmaking. He is considered to be a part of the Neo-Dada movement, a style that opposed the emotional expressions of Abstract Impressionism and instead, denies aesthetics by using mundane subjects and focusing on performance. Dine was first recognised by the art industry when he displayed ‘Happenings’ a type of performance art in collaboration with the musician John Cage. In 1959, it was exhibited over six days in an environment or installation in New York City’s Reuben Gallery, where features of light, sound, projects and viewer participation all played a part in the display.
As an artist who created his work in America during social turbulence and disorder, Jim Dine came as a shock to both his own country and the art industry. Handmade objects and nature were sole components of his pieces, meaning that Dine was able to incorporate everyday objects into his Pop Art, transforming mundane items into profound and colourful compositions. Among all of the highs in his artistic career, Dine was elected into the National Academy of Design in 1983 which is located in New York, serving as an honorary association to American artists.
