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for The Dry Cleaning Store
© The George and Helen Segal Foundation/Bildupphovsrätt 2026, Sweden/VAGA, New York, NY
The Dry Cleaning Store
for The Dry Cleaning Store

The Dry Cleaning Store

by George Segal
Artist (USA, 1924 - 2000)
Alternate Title
  • Kemtvätten
Date1964
Dimensions213 x 213 x 244 cm
Classification
Countries
Credit LineDonation 1973 (New York Collection)
Object NumberNMSK 2175
CollectionsThe New York Collection
The artwork is not on display
About the artworkThe USA experienced an economic boom after the Second World War, and the rapid urbanisation raised issues concerning contemporary lifestyles. The art scene had long been dominated by non-figurative abstract expressionism. Now, young American artists were trying to reintroduce reality in art. In George Segal’s work, pop meets social realism. He was frustrated by how the frame of a painting sets spatial limits, and consequently began making full-sized sculptures. A new quick-drying type of plaster bandages enabled him to make casts of his models, usually family members or friends. Segal portrays everyday situations, moments that convey a sense of what it means to be human. The self-absorption of his plaster figures seems to capture the lack of contact between people. The neon sign and window of The Dry Cleaning Store have taken over the role communicating, while the individual is reduced to a provider of services. This work was shown at Moderna Museet for the first time in the exhibition New York Collection for Stockholm. Selected exhibition history Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Efterkrigstid till 1970-tal Moderna Museet, Stockholm Pop Art & Nouveau Réalisme, ur samlingarna (1991-1992) Moderna Museet, Stockholm New York Collection for Stockholm (1973) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Pop Art & Nouveau realisme : ur Moderna Museets samlingar : Moderna Museet 26.12.1991 - 09.08.1992New York Collection for Stockholm : Moderna Museet : oktober 27 - december 2, 1973 Bibliography Abate, Michele (red.), Faces in the Crowd/Volti nella Folla, Milano 2004, s. 192, ill. s 193.