Ceramic

4"x 3"


The OY/YO Mug by Deborah Kass is functional, playful rendition of her undeniably pop OY/YO paintings and sculptures, which reference Ed Ruschas iconic text-based work. The reoccurring motif of the two exclamations first appeared in 2011 and since then has been featured in a broad range of mediums, including the notable large-scale installation at Brooklyn Bridge Park which debuted in November 2015. The phrases 'OY' and 'YO' are exemplary of Kasss appropriation of popular culture and Yiddish language. OY is on one side of the mug; YO is on the other.

Deborah Kass (b. 1952, lives and works in Brooklyn) sources from mainstream pop culture, political realities, film, Yiddish, art historical styles, and prominent art world figures, Kass uses appropriation in her work to explore notions of identity, politics, and her own cultural interests to alter the world of contemporary art and create a new hybrid of its own. Her work is found in the Museum of Modern Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Guggenheim Museum, The Jewish Museum, and countless other public and private collections. In the Fall of 2012, The Andy Warhol Foundation presented her mid career retrospective, which received much attention.