Roy Lichtenstein, The Equestrians, aka The Red Horsemen, 1982 (with official COA from publisher & Olympic Committee)

Roy Lichtenstein

The Red Horseman, (aka The Equestrians) for Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games, 1982

Limited Edition Offset Lithograph on Parsons Diploma Parchment Paper. Pencil Signed. With COA from Olympic Committee and COA from gallery

24 × 36 inches

Pencil signed on the front

Edition of 750 (though fewer than 200 are said to be extant)

Accompanied by letter of authenticity from the publisher and the Olympic Committee.   This is one of only 750 hand signed lithographic posters, published in 1982 to celebrate the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics - though only 200 are said to remain.  The Olympic Committee commissioned 15 nationally known artists, including to create unique designs to promote the event.  The complete list of artists is: Sam Francis, David Hockney, Richard Diebenkorn, Carlos Almaraz, Robert Rauschenberg, Jennifer Bartlett, Jonathan Borofsky, Roy LIchtenstein, April Gornik, Raymond Saunders, Martin Puryear, John Baldessari, Lynda Benglis, Billy Al Bengston and Garry Winogrand.  This was Roy Lichtenstein's contribution to the portfolio. his work is unframed and in fine condition; excellent provenance as it was acquired as part of the complete portfolio of limited edition hand signed Olympic prints, all held in the original box with colophon and authenticity documentation. This will be the first time the print has been removed so authenticity is unconditionally guaranteed forever. Excellent condition; never framed. All of the works in this rare portfolio, including this Lichtenstein lithographic poster, are unnumbered, but published in the limited edition of 750 hand signed. This work, the equestrian, depicts layered images of a blue jockey riding a red horse. The piece is signed in graphite to the lower right, and is marked "Reproduction from “The Red Horsemen” copyright 1975 Roy Lichtenstein, Copyright 1982 Los Angeles Olympics Organizing Committee, Published by Knapp Communications Corporation". Excellent condition; unframed. In 2017, the Olympic Museum in Lausanne Switzerland featured all 15 lithographs from this portfolio: “The 1980s were marked by non-conformism, eccentricity, audacity and joie de vivre,” say the exhibition organizers, “All these elements are clearly expressed in the stylistic vocabulary chosen by the organizrs of the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, with its fun approach and acid colors.”

 SIGNATURE

Signed in graphite pencil, lower right

PROVENANCE

Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from the publisher and the Olympic Committee.  Acquired as part of the complete 1984 Olympic Lithographic Poster Portfolio of  15 hand signed prints, in the original box with colophon and Certificate of Authenticity.

EXHIBITION HISTORY

Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, 2017 (different portfolio)