Is it Art??? A look at Three Ground-breaking, “Unusual”, Extraordinary, works of art that challenge the conventional definition of What is Art??? …

In 1915, Marcel Duchamp, exhibited in New York City, the first ever “Ready Made”; a term given to common everyday objects that were newly appointed to be fine art…They were “already made” items that were given NEW “meaning”. So, by taking a simple wood and galvanized iron American snow shovel, Duchamp created…

“In Advance of a Broken Arm” 1915-Marcel Duchamp

In 1915, Duchamp turned the art world onto it’s ear with this unusual artwork… Nobody had ever attempted to show this type of artwork before—extremely non-traditional for this time period… What do you think? …. Is It Art??? Original, Nov. 1915

"Please note that I didn't want to make a work of art out of [Bicycle Wheel]. The word 'Readymade' did not appear until 1915, when I went to the United States. It was an interesting word, but when I put a bicycle wheel on a stool, the fork down, there was no idea of a 'readymade,' or anything else. It was just a distraction. I didn't have any special reason to do it, or any intention of showing it, or describing anything. No nothing like that..." (Cabanne 47). And so the Bicycle Wheel was not intended to be a remarkable piece of art, but rather a personal experiment. However, just because the initial idea behind it wasn't art-oriented doesn't mean that Duchamp didn't whole-heartedly embrace the wonderful uproar and contradictions it later acquired when becoming designated as art. Original Version: 1913, Paris LOST Art pictured here is a replica circa 1963 bicycle fork and wheel screwed upside down onto stool painted white assisted readymade no dimensions recorded

In 1965, Joseph Kosuth, created a piece of art that was more mentally stimulating than fabricated… The piece features a physical chair, a photograph of that chair, and the text of a dictionary definition of the word "chair". All three representations are merely physical abstractions of the one true idea of the chair, thus the piece is both the three physical representations of a chair, and the one universal notion of a chair…

“One and Three Chairs” 1965-Joseph Kosuth

This type of art has become known as “Conceptual Art”— That is the “intellectual property” and the IDEA behind the artwork is what gives it value. Again, very advanced and bizarre for the mid 1900’s. So, again, what do you think? …. Is It Art???

Lot Description Joseph Kosuth (B. 1945) One and Three Coats photograph, leather coat and Photostat mounted on board, in three parts photograph: 61 x 32 3/8 in. (155 x 82 cm.) coat: 53 1/8 x 15. Executed in (3) 'Glass Words Material Described', sheets of glass, painted text, glass: 48 x 48 x 1/2 inches

Five Words In Green Neon 1965 Green neon, transformer overall: 4 1/2 x 88 1/4 inches

In 1943, Pablo Picasso, having already proven himself to be a skilled painter and thinker created a piece of sculpture that also seemed clever but odd. Taking a bicycle seat and handle bars Picasso created…

“Bull’s Head” 1943-Pablo Picasso

Creating a very contemporary type of art work for the time, Picasso added to his perceived innovative genius status by creating a sculpture that has become known as an “Assemblage”– These artworks take materials not originally intended to be used for art and transforms it into art….So, one more time…What do you think? …. Is It Art???

Goat Skull, Bottle and Candle Woman in Green 1943