A drawing from Images à la Carte by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

While visiting Paula Cooper Gallery in New York in the Spring of 2023, I spotted a notebook-size collection of drawings by Claes Oldenburg with, and for, Coosje van Bruggen — an exhibition catalogue published for a 2004 show of the works. Upon cracking it open, I was charmed by small studies of restaurant foods, sketched in a style so energetic, imaginative, wonderful, and dynamic — at times resembling architectural structures, and others rugged, confident landforms. A documentation that celebrates companionship. An encapsulation of the kind of romance that’s right up my alley. “We are never just out to lunch.”

Shortly after finding the book I got together with friends Kelsey McClellan and Maggie Ruggiero to make some photos inspired by the drawings. This month I finally got around to marking them up.

WORDS BY OLDENBURG

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE MAGUIRE, KELSEY McCLELLAN & MAGGIE RUGGIERO. INSPIRED BY CLAES OLDENBURG & COOSJE VAN BRUGGEN.

A drawing from Images à la Carte by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE MAGUIRE, KELSEY McCLELLAN & MAGGIE RUGGIERO. INSPIRED BY CLAES OLDENBURG & COOSJE VAN BRUGGEN.

A drawing from Images à la Carte by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE MAGUIRE, KELSEY McCLELLAN & MAGGIE RUGGIERO. INSPIRED BY CLAES OLDENBURG & COOSJE VAN BRUGGEN.

A drawing from Images à la Carte by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELLE MAGUIRE, KELSEY McCLELLAN & MAGGIE RUGGIERO. INSPIRED BY CLAES OLDENBURG & COOSJE VAN BRUGGEN.