This week we take a closer look at Robert Indiana's 'The Decade' Portfolio, which is currently on exhibition at our flagship gallery on New Bond Street, as part of our Summer Exhibition.
Robert Indiana, Parrot, from The Decade Portfolio, 1971
The birth of the 1970s marked the end of a monumental decade for the American artist Robert Indiana. During the 1960s Indiana experienced an almighty surge in his notoriety which had a major impact on Indiana's professional and personal life. Subsequently, Indiana felt compelled to visually record his most defining decade which resulted in his celebrated 'The Decade Portfolio'.
The portfolio is made up of ten screenprints, each designed to represent a deeply personal milestone from each year of the 1960s. While the portfolio does include his most famous Pop artwork, ‘LOVE' (1968), Indiana's intention was not to document his success but rather to focus on more sombre personal experiences. Ultimately aiming to construct a symbolic autobiography. Marian Goodman played a key role in the production of this portfolio, working closely alongside Indiana as the primary liaison between the artist and his publishers, Multiples, Inc. Unlike his contemporaries such as Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein, who's art focused on appropriating images from popular culture and consumer goods, Indiana's art takes the aesthetics of stark American road signage and manipulated them to convey his own personal turmoil as well as to comment on political and social issues of the decade.
Robert Indiana, The American Dream, from The Decade Portfolio.1971
Designed as a deeply personal visual timeline, this portfolio acts as a mirror to a turbulent yet defining era. Through these ten bold screenprints Robert Indiana takes us on a highly autobiographical journey sharing the milestones and turning points that shaped his life and career.
So, who ever heard of a pop art parrot? Indiana takes a break from his striking signage and represents his family within a 'Pop Art Parrot'. A childhood memory of his maternal uncle who had a pet parrot that perched on his shoulder. The print combines personal history with graphics and stencils, including the Greek word, EYPHKA. (EUREKA), 'I have found it', reflecting Indiana's fascination with language and typography.
View the Summer Show until August 31st 2026
