Alexander Kaletski
Mixed media on cardboard
83 x 66 cm

‘Boy in oversized shirt’ is a renowned artwork that refers to the artist’s struggles during his early years as an artist. After fleeing from the USSR to the United States, Kaletski couldn’t afford expensive art supplies for his works. Therefore, he collected cardboard boxes from the streets of New York, using them as canvases in his early work. Later, he became famous particularly for the adoption of found objects in his paintings.

This work is packed with dualism, juxtaposing humor to suffering. The whimsical, child-like depiction of the figure, and the sad expression on his face and his hand movement propose conflicting meanings to the audience. ‘Boy in oversized shirt’ invites the audience to question the character’s inner emotions.