a bronze santa holding a christmas tree shaped butt plug painted in red

Paul McCarthy

Name: Santa with Butt Plug Bronze 11.4 inches
Price: 25000.0 EUR
Availability: InStock

Santa with Butt Plug Bronze 11.4 inches

Edition of 25

Shipping within 2 weeks

With an assembly of red bronzes, Paul McCarthy imparts a lewd lesson on the duality of an object.

From early performances to pop-up Parisian confectioners and 80-foot inflatables, sex toys and Santa Claus have a storied past in the work of seminal American artist Paul McCarthy. Short of a signature, the two belong to a perverse lexicon of icons and archetypes which McCarthy has revisited, re-invented and combined at will over the course of his five decade career. In this case, questioning the commodification of Christmas and the associations of a derided object which – in another context – might be considered a masterstroke of minimalism.

Santa with Butt Plug Bronze 11.4 inches revisits a 2001 public sculpture commissioned by the city of Rotterdam. A foam replica, created during the casting process and subsequently left to rot for five years outside McCarthy’s studio, provides the form for a new and smaller incarnation. Cracks, fissures and imperfections are preserved as testament to the artwork’s ongoing history. A sanguine finish completes the edition – heightening the fidelity of its surface and fulfilling McCarthy’s vision for his original, large-scale Santa.

For the full picture, read an accompanying journal – Butt plugs, Santa Claus & Paul McCarthy.

artist wearing a bulbous fake nose and gloves with large, sausage-like fingers – covered in paint

Paul McCarthy

1 collaboration

Paul McCarthy concocts a twisted American Dream like no other. He weaves sculpture, film and installation into exquisitely constructed scenarios. Throughout, there are nods to all corners of society – from Disney and Donald Trump, to pornography and war. In the 1970s McCarthy became known for his performances and videos. These early works launched McCarthy into the limelight where, through a process of non-stop reinvention, he’s remained ever since. Bossy Burger (1991) saw the artist smearing ketchup and mayonnaise all over himself. Painter (1995) is a 50-minute-long spoof of the art world’s underbelly.

Who else should know about this work?

Help us spread the word

Reviews from Avant collectors

The Avant Arte team is all around top notch. Excellent communication and everything is always packaged so thoughtfully. A+
Review of Ringers #962: The LACMA Iterations
Love, love, love this piece of amazing work...from the craftmanship, brilliance of the colors, to the title it is fire! My new fave...among many other favorites! The treatment my framer gave it is delicious and aww inspiring...thanks Avant Arte!
Review of In Search For Light
absolutely impeccable service!
Review of Contemplar al Otro en Tarde Rosa
the packaging was excellent! the piece was well protected. communication from the time i placed the order to framing to shipment was very good
Review of Actual Size
its wonderful. i love buying from you all.
Review of Sierra
Great packaging and superb frame! nice piece
Review of Actual Size
i have been very pleased with my wonderful art work! communication and packaging was suberb. highly recommend
Review of Guardian
From start to finish, the process of purchasing, claiming the NFT counterpart, and receiving the framed piece was nothing short of excellent. My entire experience with Avant Arte displayed a level of professionalism and excellence across the board. Well done!
Review of Ringers #962: The LACMA Iterations

Discover more sculpture editions on Avant Arte

See all

Available

Grant Levy-Lucerode la Rosa, Dulcería La Moderna€ 2.000

Few left

Moe NakamuraInside Us€ 8.500

Draw

Johnson TsangThe Moment€ 700

Closing in 00d 00h 00m

Available

Rafa MacarrónIndi€ 12.000