Joe Goode, Iconoclastic Pop Artist, Dies at 86
Joe Goode, a pivotal figure in the Los Angeles art scene adn a celebrated contemporary of artists like Ed Ruscha, passed away at the age of 86. Known for his distinctive approach to Pop art, Goode left an indelible mark with his “Milk Bottle” paintings, sculptural staircases, and a career that defied easy categorization.
While ofen associated with the Pop art movement, goode’s work distinguished itself through it’s lack of overt commercialism.Unlike Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein, Goode’s art explored a different sensibility. While he incorporated everyday objects, his work was seen as more subtle compared to Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, blending a unique lightness of touch and reflection.
Goode’s “Milk Bottle” series, created in the early 1960s, remains his most recognized work.These paintings feature hand-painted milk bottles juxtaposed against near-monochrome backgrounds,often with subtle silhouettes of the bottle forms. The artist’s own words encapsulate the essence of these iconic images: “I think of it as a kind of image that is fragile, can spill, it’s nourishing, it’s all of these different weird things in one image.” His longtime friend, Ed Ruscha, engaged Goode in conversation about these images to better understand the intent.
These milk bottle paintings have been interpreted in various ways, one of them being an ode to the domestic sphere. A 1962 piece owned by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art bears the fitting name,”Happy Birthday”. Critic John Coplans once referred to them as “the loneliest paintings imaginable,” in Artforum.
As his career evolved, Goode ventured into three-dimensional art, crafting sculptural staircases that led nowhere, emphasizing the absurd and challenging conventional notions of functionality.
Goode’s unique artistic sensibility aligned him with the artists showcased at the Ferus Gallery, a notable space in Los Angeles founded by Walter hopps, his wife Shirley, and artist Edward Kienholz. Though Goode never exhibited at Ferus, Hopps included Goode’s work in “New Paintings of Common Objects,” a landmark 1962 exhibition at the Pasadena Art Museum.Born in Oklahoma City in 1937, Goode formed a lifelong friendship with Ed Ruscha. Though he left high school before his graduation,he followed Ruscha out west to Chouinard Art Institute where his contemporaries included Llyn Foulkes,John Altoon,and Larry Bell.
Goode’s personal life, like his art, was marked by significant transitions. His early marriage to Judy Winans, a fellow Chouinard student, ended, but he later married artist Natalie Bieser in 1978.Around this time, he left Los Angeles for some time and relocated to a ranch near Springville, California, where he explored new artistic directions, including a series of abstractions created with gunshot marks.
In 1961, he appeared alongside Bell, Ed Bereal, and Ron Miyashira in “War Babies”. Goode can be seen here eating a mackerel, alluding to a 19th-century slur for Catholics.
Later in his career, Goode returned to Los Angeles.In the 2000s, he began a series of fire paintings. Tragedy struck when a fire engulfed his Mar Vista home, destroying his studio and many of his artworks. He found temporary refuge in Ruscha’s residence.
Though Goode is often considered a cult figure, the Contemporary Art Museum st. louis presented a survey of his work in 2015, describing him as “one of America’s most innovative yet under-recognized painters.”
Goode’s legacy lies in his ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, challenging viewers to reconsider their perceptions of everyday objects and the world around them. His work continues to inspire and provoke thought, solidifying his place as a unique and influential voice in American art.
How did Goode’s artistic vision evolve beyond painting, especially with his enigmatic sculptural staircases?
Table of Contents
- 1. How did Goode’s artistic vision evolve beyond painting, especially with his enigmatic sculptural staircases?
- 2. A Conversation on the Legacy of Joe Goode: An Interview with Art Historian Eleanor Vance
- 3. Understanding the Pop Art Icon
- 4. Beyond Milk bottles: Expanding Artistic Horizions
- 5. A Lasting Impact
A Conversation on the Legacy of Joe Goode: An Interview with Art Historian Eleanor Vance
archyde News Editor: Welcome, Eleanor. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the life and work of the recently departed artist, Joe Goode.
Eleanor Vance: Thank you for having me. it’s an honour to speak about such a significant figure in American art.
Understanding the Pop Art Icon
Archyde News Editor: Goode was often associated with the Pop Art movement, yet his work felt distinct. Can you elaborate on how he carved his own path within that scene?
Eleanor Vance: Absolutely. While he shared some aesthetic touchstones with Pop artists, Goode eschewed overt commercialism. His art was more contemplative, exploring the subtle beauty of everyday objects. His “Milk Bottle” series, for example, is iconic, but presents a different sensibility than, say, Warhol. It’s a quieter form of Pop art, marked by reflection and a unique lightness.
Archyde News Editor: Those milk bottles are, of course, instantly recognizable. what was the significance behind them?
Eleanor Vance: They were incredibly personal. Goode spoke of them as fragile, nourishing, complex emblems. They are a subtle nod to the domestic, an exploration of innocence and the ephemeral. They invite us to consider the beauty hidden in the mundane.
Beyond Milk bottles: Expanding Artistic Horizions
Archyde News Editor: Goode’s work evolved beyond painting. His sculptural staircases were captivating. How did they fit into his artistic vision?
Eleanor Vance: The staircases were a natural progression. They emphasized the absurd. They challenged conventional notions of function, leading the viewer nowhere. They emphasized a sense of displacement and questioning, adding another layer to his unique artistic identity.
Archyde News Editor: Goode was a contemporary of artists like Ed Ruscha. Can you shed some light on their relationship and the impact of the Los Angeles art scene on his work?
Eleanor Vance: Goode’s friendship with Ruscha was influential, as they were both part of the artistic energy in Los Angeles. goode’s early connection to the Ferus Gallery scene, even if he didn’t formally exhibit there, points to his alignment with the artistic innovation that was emerging in LA at that time. His time at the Chouinard Art Institute, alongside contemporaries like Llyn Foulkes, was critical in developing his artistic style. They definitely inspired and spurred each other creatively.
A Lasting Impact
Archyde News Editor: Despite being considered a “cult figure” at times, Goode’s work clearly resonated with curators and critics, as shown by the 2015 survey at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. What is his enduring legacy?
Eleanor Vance: Goode transformed the ordinary into the remarkable. His paintings, his fire paintings and his sculptural works challenge viewers to reconsider their perceptions of the world.He was innovative and thought-provoking, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire artists and art lovers for years to come.
Archyde News Editor: Considering his challenging life and his final firey works, can you consider his life and work some sort of statement? What do you think Goode’s art is trying to tell us?
Eleanor Vance: Goode’s art conveys the beauty of the subtle and also touches upon darker themes of tragedy and transformation. His work seems to say that reflection on mundanity and the ephemeral beauty that can be seen within even the darkest moments is crucial. He asks us to find meaning in the everyday and that art survives even when the physical work is gone.
Archyde News Editor: Eleanor, thank you for your insightful perspective.It’s a fitting tribute to the life and career of Joe Goode.
Eleanor Vance: thank you for having me.
