File:Steven Siegel Zelig 2008.jpg

Sculpture by Steven Siegel, _Zelig from "Wonderful Life" (mixed media, 68" x 84" x 24", 2008). The image illustrates a later period in Steven Siegel's career from 2000s after he shifted emphasis to studio work inspired by evolutionary processes, represented by "Wonderful Life" (2002–8), his first major body of work in that vein. The chronological series of 52 wall pieces relates to his large-scale outdoor work in its continued use of postconsumer materials and evolving processes of incremental accumulation and craft building to larger wholes; it was partly inspired by and titled after Stephen Jay Gould's book reassessing evolutionary theory. The series differs from Siegel's nearly monochromatic, newspaper works, however, in its garish, almost pop colors, which reviews described as both exuberant and menacing. This project has been commissioned by and publicly exhibited in prominent public institutions and discussed in major art journals and daily press publications.

Artist Steven Siegel. Copyright held by the artist.

Steven Siegel

Complete artwork

Yes

The image serves an informational and educational purpose as the primary means of illustrating a later period and body of work in Steven Siegel's career from 2000s: his shifted to studio work inspired by evolutionary processes, which ranged from intimate, abstract sculpture to ambitious multimedia installations. This work included "Wonderful Life" (2002–8), a chronological series of 52 wall pieces made with a limited range of materials that was partly inspired by and titled after Stephen Jay Gould's book reassessing evolutionary theory. The series replicates the detail and diversity of natural life, progressing from simple to more elaborate and sophisticated forms by appropriated nature's methodology, using simple, cumulative changes in evolution (i.e., the refinement of technique) from work to work. Because the article is about an artist and his work, the omission of the image would significantly limit a reader's understanding and ability to visualize this key shift in emphasis and development in his career, which brought ongoing recognition through exhibitions in major venues, coverage by major critics in publications, and public commissions. Siegel's work of this type and this work in particular is discussed in the article and by prominent critics cited in the article.

There is no free equivalent of this or any other of this series by Steven Siegel, so the image cannot be replaced by a free image.

The image will not affect the value of the original work or limit the copyright holder's rights or ability to distribute the original due to its low resolution and the general workings of the art market, which values the actual work of art. Because of the low resolution, illegal copies could not be made.