Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective
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Christina Ramberg (American, 1946–1995) is best known for her stylized paintings of fragmented female bodies. In her work, she develops a visual vocabulary of fetish objects from hands, torsos, shoes, and locks of hair. Over time these images become increasingly abstract, eventually reduced to a set of simple geometries. The first comprehensive retrospective devoted to Ramberg in almost 30 years, the exhibition presents approximately 100 works including paintings, quilts, and archival ephemera.
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![PAinting of the back of a woman's head, as she pats her hair with her hand]()
Christina Ramberg, Untitled (Hair), 1968Acrylic on Masonite, in artist's hand painted wood frame. 17.8 × 51.5 cm (7 × 20 1/4 in.) Joel Wachs Obj: 262953; Photography by Kris Graves -
![Triptych painting of a black corset, a black shoe, and the back of a woman's head wearing a black hat]()
Christina Ramberg, Belle Rêve, 1969Acrylic in Masonite, in artist's hand painted wood frame. 29.3 × 88.3 cm (11 1/2 × 34 3/4 in.) Collection of Michael J Robertson and Christopher A Slapak Obj: 262961; Photography by Jamie Stukenberg -
![Painting of a woman's back, with a finger reaching into her corset]()
Christina Ramberg, Probed Cinch, 1971Acrylic on Masonite, in artist's hand painted wood frame. 30.5 × 30.5 cm (12 × 12 in.); 33.1 × 33.1 × 3.2 cm (13 × 13 × 1 1/4 in.) Private collection, New York Obj: 262968; Photography by Clements/Howcroft, Boston -
![Painting of a woman's hand holding a bit of fabric]()
Christina Ramberg, Untitled (Hand), 1971Acrylic on Masonite. 23.9 × 18.8 cm (9 3/8 × 7 3/8 in.); 26.4 × 21.3 × 3.2 cm (10 3/8 × 8 3/8 × 1 1/4 in.) Private collection, New York Obj: 262975; Stewart Clements Photography -
![Painting of a woman's body, bent over and wearing black bra, corset, underwear, and stockings]()
Christina Ramberg, Waiting Lady, 1972Acrylic on hardboard. 57.8 × 82 cm (22 3/4 × 32 1/4 in.) Anstiss and Ronald Krueck Collection Obj: 201865; Photography by Jamie Stukenberg -
![Diptych painting of a woman's rear end and chest wearing black underwear]()
Christina Ramberg, Loose Beauty, 1973Acrylic on Masonite Diptych. Each panel: 48.3 × 37.5 cm (19 × 14 3/4 in.); framed: 51.5 × 78.2 cm (20 1/4 × 30 3/4 in.) The Art Institute of Chicago; Twentieth-Century Purchase Fund 1973.336; Photography by Jamie Stukenberg -
![Painting divided into quarters, each quarter showing an abstract form]()
Christina Ramberg, O.H. #2, 1976Acrylic on Masonite in artist’s frame. 90.2 × 78.8 cm (35 1/2 × 31 in.) Illinois State Museum, Illinois Legacy Collection Obj: 262993; Courtesy of the Illinois State Museum -
![Painting of a disembodied female form, wearing a jacket, a pair of pants emerging from her vulva]()
Christina Ramberg, Black ‘N Blue Jacket, 1981Acrylic on Masonite. 124.8 × 94.7 cm (49 1/8 × 37 1/4 in.) Chuck and Kathy Harper Obj: 263013; Photography by Jamie Stukenberg
Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective is organized by the Art Institute of Chicago. The exhibition is curated by Thea Liberty Nichols, associate research curator, and Mark Pascale, Janet and Craig Duchossois Curator, The presentation at the Hammer is organized by Paulina Pobocha, Robert Soros Senior Curator, with Ashton Cooper, curatorial assistant.