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Varujan Boghosian — Variation on Man Ray (Iron & Nail)
Varujan Boghosian

Variation on Man Ray (Iron & Nail)

This metal construction presents a stark assemblage of industrial materials, featuring a flat rectangular iron plate with a protruding nail and an organic curved handle. The work demonstrates the Surrealist and Dada-influenced approach to found objects and unconventional materials that characterized mid-twentieth-century American avant-garde practice. By transforming utilitarian metal scraps into a sculptural form, the artist engages with the conceptual strategies pioneered by Marcel Duchamp and other modernists who elevated everyday objects to fine art status. The weathered surface and crude fabrication emphasize the materiality of the work while inviting viewers to reconsider the aesthetic potential of discarded industrial debris.

Medium
Construction of metal
Dimensions

🔨 Auction Lot

Provincetown Art Association & Museum Benefit Auction

May 16, 2026

Estimate: $500$700

Lot 82

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About this work

Varujan Boghosian, Variation on Man Ray (Iron & Nail)

This metal construction presents a stark assemblage of industrial materials, featuring a flat rectangular iron plate with a protruding nail and an organic curved handle. The work demonstrates the Surrealist and Dada-influenced approach to found objects and unconventional materials that characterized mid-twentieth-century American avant-garde practice. By transforming utilitarian metal scraps into a sculptural form, the artist engages with the conceptual strategies pioneered by Marcel Duchamp and other modernists who elevated everyday objects to fine art status. The weathered surface and crude fabrication emphasize the materiality of the work while inviting viewers to reconsider the aesthetic potential of discarded industrial debris.

Medium
Construction of metal
Dimensions
17.8 x 10.8 cm
Seen at
Eldred's, East Dennis, Massachusetts, United States

Related themes

Surrealism, Iron Sculpture, Avant Garde, Dada, Rustic Aesthetic, Mid Century, Three Dimensional Art, Mixed Media, Conceptual Art, Industrial Materials, Metal Construction, Modernism, Assemblage Art, Abstract Form, Provenance Cape Cod, American Art, Minimalist Approach, Textured Surface, Found Objects, Sculptural Object

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