Photograph on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Tate American Fund
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/tim-lee-8894" aria-label="More by Tim Lee" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Tim Lee</a>
Steve Martin 1972
Lent by the American Fund for the Tate Gallery, courtesy of the American Acquisitions Committee 2006
actions: postures and motions
adults
arrow
comedy
emotions, concepts and ideas
fine arts and music
formal qualities
high art
humour
individuals: male
instrument, banjo
Lee, Tim
leisure and pastimes
lifestyle and culture
man
Martin, Steve
music and entertainment
named individuals
objects
people
photographic
popular culture
portraits
self-portraits
society
standing
universal concepts
weapons
<p>The artist is shown playing a banjo and wearing a joke shop arrow on his head. The image is a direct reference to the early stand-up persona of American comedian Steve Martin. Martin’s zany, absurdist humour led to his massive success on television and film in the 1970s. Lee has expressed his interest in Martin, relating the actor’s early physical performances to the work of artists such as Bruce Nauman who were making performance or action-based works during the same period.</p><p><em>Gallery label, December 2006</em></p>
paper print photograph
27 November 2006 – 8 April 2007
2007-04-08
Tate Modern (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
2006-11-27
New Acquisitions Dec 06
Collection based display
Steve Martin, 1972
1550 × 1250 mm
Lent by the <a href="/search?gid=999999976" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">American Fund for the Tate Gallery</a>, courtesy of the American Acquisitions Committee 2006
<p>The artist is shown playing a banjo and wearing a joke shop arrow on his head. The image is a direct reference to the early stand-up persona of American comedian Steve Martin. Martin’s zany, absurdist humour led to his massive success on television and film in the 1970s. Lee has expressed his interest in Martin, relating the actor’s early physical performances to the work of artists such as Bruce Nauman who were making performance or action-based works during the same period.</p>

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2006-12-15T00:00:00
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actions: postures and motions adults arrow comedy emotions, concepts and ideas fine arts and music formal qualities high art humour individuals: male instrument, banjo Lee, Tim leisure and pastimes lifestyle and culture man Martin, Steve music and entertainment named individuals objects people photographic popular culture portraits self-portraits society standing universal concepts weapons