Gretchen Bender
Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of God in Vain (The Third Commandment), 1987
2 Color Lithograph and embossment on reflective mylar
Signed and numbered 37 from the limited edition of only 84 by the artist on the back
24 × 18 inches
Unframed
This two color lithograph on reflective mylar with embossment is signed, dated and numbered from the limited edition of 84. This Gretchen Bender mixed media print was created as part of the 1987 portfolio "The Ten Commandments", in which ten top Jewish American artists were each invited to choose an Old Testament commandment to interpret in contemporary lithographic form. The "Chosen" artists were, in order of Commandment: Kenny Scharf, Joseph Nechvatal, Gretchen Bender, April Gornik, Robert Kushner, Nancy Spero, Vito Acconci, Jane Dickson, Judy Rifka and Richard Bosman. This lithograph is in excellent condition; unframed. This is the first time it will have been removed from the original portfolio case. (shown). Lisa Liebmann, who wrote the introduction to the collection, observed: "...The image has, for most of us, replaced the word..." With respect to the present work, she writes, "The Third Commandment, against taking the Lord's name in vain, is one of the most remote from us, and therefore open to interpretation..." Excellent original condition.
The Estate of Gretchen Bender, which was represented by Metro Pictures, is currently represented by Spruth Magers
Gretchen Bender Biography
Gretchen Bender (1951–2004) was a pioneering multidisciplinary American artist whose practice interrogated the accelerated age of mass media. Solo exhibitions include Sprüth Magers (2024, 2023), Red Bull Arts, New York (2019), The Kitchen, New York; The Poor Farm, WI (2012), Everson Museum, Syracuse, NY (1991), Meyers/Bloom, Los Angeles (1989), Metro Pictures, New York (1988), and Nature Morte, New York (1986, 1985, 1983, 1982). Selected group shows include Kunsthalle Wien; Mudam Luxembourg (2025; 2024), Cantor Arts Center, Stanford; Blanton Museum of Art, Austin (2023; 2024), Museum of Modern Art, New York (2023, 2019–2023), The Menil Collection, Houston (2023), Modern Art Museum, Fort Worth (2023), UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing (2022), The Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C. (2018), Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston (2018, 2003), 2014 Whitney Biennial, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2014), Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston; The Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (2012), New Museum, New York (2004, 1986), Wexner Center, Columbus, OH (1990), Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (1989, 1988, 1982), Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (1989), Monika Sprüth Galerie, Cologne (1987), Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1987), Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (1987), Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (1986), Museum Moderner Kunst, Vienna (1985).
-Courtesy Spruth Magers
