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| - On April 6, 2009, I headed out to Las Vegas for a short springtime vacation. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art was showcasing my all-time favorite artist, Roy Lichtenstein. The exhibit, titled Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol and Friends consisted of around 10-15 pieces, mostly large-scale sculptures and works on paper; and aims to portray the relationships between Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art and minimalism.
Upon entering the gallery, I was under the impression that I would begin an hour-long excursion into Pop Art heaven. The gallery is much, much smaller than I had expected (as was the exhibit). The open space is suitable for large-scale pieces, but it had an almost empty, loner feel to it. I was disappointed to learn that there were only two Lichtenstein pieces, both of which did not fit into the Pop Art category and were much more suitable candidates for minimalism. His piece called "The Mirror" uses uses the simple concept of mirrors reflecting upon one another, composed of dwindling dots and lines until the last reflection is reduced to a tiny snapshot of the original.
Although the gallery at the Bellagio is usually filled with 19th and 20th century masterpieces, they could've done a bit more to open up the world of Abstract Expressionism to visitors. While these artists are not typically what most tourists would expect to see, they were definitely not given the due credit they deserve at the Bellagio. That being said, it was definitely not worth the $15 I paid for admission.
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