Paul McCarthy

Stoned Blue Drawings

1968–69

Paul McCarthy has developed a relatively focused group of themes and motifs, including sex, aggression, food, blood, urine, and semen. The body, with its primary urges, functions, and fluids, has served as an instrument with which to probe social mores and unearth taboos. Likewise, as in Stoned Blue Drawings, his use of name-brand food products such as Hershey’s and popular-culture figures such as Santa Claus suggests that his work is grappling with issues pertaining to the broad arena of Western capitalism.

Paul McCarthy (b. 1945, Salt Lake City; lives and works in Los Angeles)
Stoned Blue Drawings, 1968–69
Twenty-six drawings; Graphite and ink on paper
8 1/2 x 11 in. each
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Purchased with funds provided by the Drawings Committee