John Baldessari — The Thing Quarterly Issue 22 — Sealed Pillowcase Multiple (2014) — Original Box

Description

One of the standout entries in The Thing Quarterly’s run, Issue 22 was conceived by John Baldessari and takes the form of two 320–thread count cotton sateen pillowcases, each screenprinted with a Baldessari photo-based collage in the artist’s unmistakable deadpan visual language. As with all issues of The Thing Quarterly, the project functions as a “periodical in the form of an object,” merging the logic of a magazine with the collector’s appeal of an art multiple. Baldessari’s contribution—intimate, domestic, tactile—fits perfectly into the series’ ethos: art you live with, literally.

Produced in San Francisco using environmentally friendly water-based inks, Issue 22 captures Baldessari’s wry conceptualism at a late moment in his career, when he continued to experiment with form, surface, and unexpected contexts. The pillowcases are sealed in their original plastic wrap and housed in the boldly printed kraft box designed for the project. A great piece for Baldessari collectors, Thing Quarterly completists, or anyone who appreciates the play between fine art and everyday objects.

A crisp, unused Baldessari multiple in its original packaging—one of the most desirable issues of The Thing Quarterly.