The Collection
Mixed media painting on panel • Allan McCollum
Style & Movement
Contemporary Art; Neo-Conceptualism / Institutional Critique
Medium & Technique
Enamel, oil, and collage on wood panels with applied numbered metal tags and resin coating; employs graphic silhouette techniques and grid-based composition
Creation Period
1988-1989
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 84 x 84 inches (213 x 213 cm); Square format
Subject Description
A dense arrangement of black silhouettes depicting hundreds of disparate everyday objects, tools, body parts, and animals. Each silhouette is associated with a small numbered disc, mimicking the display techniques of natural history museums or archival collections. The work explores the taxonomy of objects and the human impulse to categorize and collect.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved in a museum environment with consistent surface sheen and structural integrity
Estimated Market Value
$150,000 - $250,000
Auction Estimate
$100,000 - $200,000
Provenance History
Likely acquired directly from the artist or through his primary gallery representation (such as Leo Castelli or Friedrich Petzel); currently held in a public or major private collection (image shows museum-standard mounting)
Art Historical Significance
A seminal work in McCollum's career, 'The Collection' addresses the mass production of culture and the 'aura' of the art object. It critiques how museums validate objects through classification and examines the relationship between the individual item and the mass-produced series.
Notable Features
Features McCollum's signature use of 'signs' for objects; the numbered tags create a pseudo-scientific aesthetic that invites the viewer to look for a non-existent index or catalog.
Condition Issues
Minor surface scuffing characteristic of large-scale resin works; potential for slight yellowing of the white ground over decades, though not noticeably present in image
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable humidity (45-55%) and temperature to prevent cracking of the enamel; display under UV-filtered lighting; use only microfiber dusting techniques to avoid micro-scratches on the glossy black surfaces