Jesse Schlesinger*


LOT 16
Untitled (Look, the trees are turning their own bodies into pillars of light), 2023
Cypress, stone, enamel paint and fiberboard
52 x 16 x 16 in.
Courtesy of the artist and Anthony Meier

Suggested retail value: $12,000
Starting bid: $10,000


About the Artwork

Jesse Schlesinger (Headlands Artist in Residence ‘12) is a multidisciplinary visual artist working in sculpture, site-specific installation, drawing, and photography. His work is fundamentally concerned with place—how the natural environment, architectural context, and historical precedent contribute to experience and understanding. Labor and craft are key elements of Schlesinger’s practice, as well as a reverence for material that is reflected in his process. His upbringing as a second-generation carpenter with a focus on traditional craftsmanship and his long-term involvement with a small farm have jointly influenced the philosophy of his work. Untitled (Look, the trees are turning their own bodies into pillars of light) can be understood as a totemic representation of place—specifically Headlands Center for the Arts’ campus in the Marin Headlands. The work’s cypress base references the trees immediately adjacent to Headlands’ campus, historically planted as windbreaks, while the blue cube calls up associations with the sky and the ocean. The stone resting atop the cube further emphasizes parallels to Headlands’ dramatic natural setting. Untitled draws a line between this moment in time and Schlesinger’s first experience at Headlands more than a decade ago, during which he was able to work with cypress from the immediate vicinity to create a sculpture that continues to resonate with his practice today. Schlesinger was a finalist for SFMOMA’s SECA Art Award, and has exhibited in galleries and museums in the United States and Japan.

HOW TO BID:

Bidding is available from May 19-June 6.

1) Text 'READY TO BID' or call 628-279-6010.

OR

2) Visit the Headlands Auction Exhibition to see the artwork and bid via pencil & paper.

Learn more