
The Jackass. Clambake
2006
The Jackass. Clambake (2006) is a lithograph that captures John Currin at the height of his engagement with American social mythology, rendering the rituals of leisure and indulgence through his signature lens of exaggerated figuration and unsettling warmth. Known for his provocative revisiting of mid-century pictorial conventions, Currin uses printmaking here with the same psychological charge that defines his paintings, distilling his preoccupations with desire, kitsch, and cultural performance into a format that extends his practice beyond the canvas. The title alone signals his characteristic irreverence, pairing two distinctly American vernacular images in a way that is simultaneously comic and unnerving. Produced in an edition of 50 and hand-signed by the artist, this work occupies a meaningful place within Currin's printed oeuvre, offering collectors a point of access to one of the most discussed and debated painters of his generation in a format that carries full authorial weight. At 42 by 29.7 centimeters, the sheet presents an intimate scale well suited to close viewing, inviting the kind of sustained attention that Currin's layered visual language rewards. The edition size is restrained enough to ensure scarcity without limiting institutional presence, and signed impressions in sound condition from this period remain consistently sought after. Works by Currin have entered the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Tate, anchoring his critical standing across three decades of practice. The Jackass. Clambake ships from Hong Kong, and prospective buyers are encouraged to request a condition report prior to purchase to ensure full confidence in the impression's state.
- Medium
- Lithograph
- Sheet
- Signed
- Yes
- Spotted At
- Gallery · Vanguarts Auctions
More by John Currin
Collectors of John Currin
Also spotted by


Start the Discussion
Request access to join the discussion