Appropriation
A practice central to the world of contemporary art during the 1980s, appropriation refers to the borrowing of familiar objects and images, and applying them to new and unconventional artistic contexts. The rise of consumerism and mass media broadcasting during these years allowed artists to make use of recognisable images from popular culture in their work. The technique has been rendered across several iconic movements such as Dadaism, Surrealism, and Pop Art.
Appropriation has been specifically attributed to certain contemporary artists, and some of their works have become globally recognized for their unorthodox and juxtaposing style. From Salvador Dalí's Lobster Telephone, to Andy Warhol's iconic pop art collages to Marcel Duchamp's “readymade" working of a men's urinal, the use of appropriation can certainly be recognized across a variety of contemporary movements.
Today, appropriation remains a popular tool in the contemporary world, and we have curated a selection of artists whose work echoes this striking and innovative practice. Some of our favorites include Annick B. Cuadrado, Jeff Koons and Bertrand Lavier. If you're searching for works which surprise and delight, check out our top picks!
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Nobility of Time
Salvador Dali
Sculpture - 60 x 38 x 29 cm Sculpture - 23.6 x 15 x 11.4 inch
$43,870
Still Light By The Light of The Moon - Nature Morte au Clair De Luna Tapestry
Salvador Dali
Design - 137.16 x 90.43 x 2.53 cm Design - 54 x 35.6 x 1 inch
$18,500
Que Font Ces Gens
Salvador Dali
Fine Art Drawings - 15.5 x 9.5 x 0.2 cm Fine Art Drawings - 6.1 x 3.7 x 0.1 inch
$97,754
Balloon Rabbit (Violet)
Jeff Koons
Sculpture - 29 x 14 x 21 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 5.5 x 8.3 inch
$20,862
La Parade (série Femmes et Chevaux)
Salvador Dali
Print - 45 x 31.5 cm Print - 17.7 x 12.4 inch
$954
Les Caprices Pinces Princiers (Frank Hunter Authenticated)
Salvador Dali
Print - 55.9 x 74.9 x 0.3 cm Print - 22 x 29.5 x 0.1 inch
$1,838
The Old Man and the Sea - Portrait
Salvador Dali
Print - 56 x 38 x 0.05 cm Print - 22 x 15 x 0 inch
$1,788 $1,609
The Old Man and the Sea - The Fall
Salvador Dali
Print - 56 x 38 x 0.05 cm Print - 22 x 15 x 0 inch
$1,788 $1,609
The Old Man and the Sea - Dolphins
Salvador Dali
Print - 56 x 38 x 0.05 cm Print - 22 x 15 x 0 inch
$1,788 $1,609
The Old Man and the Sea - Apotheosis
Salvador Dali
Print - 56 x 38 x 0.05 cm Print - 22 x 15 x 0 inch
$1,788 $1,609
The Old Man and the Sea - The Rod
Salvador Dali
Print - 56 x 38 x 0.05 cm Print - 22 x 15 x 0 inch
$1,788 $1,609
The Old Man and the Sea - The Struggle
Salvador Dali
Print - 56 x 38 x 0.05 cm Print - 22 x 15 x 0 inch
$1,788 $1,609
The World of Currier & Ives
Salvador Dali
Print - 83 x 63 x 1 cm Print - 32.7 x 24.8 x 0.4 inch
$1,180
The Heart of Madness from Historia de Don Quichote de la Mancha
Salvador Dali
Print - 76.2 x 55.9 cm Print - 30 x 22 inch
$3,500
The Immaculate Conception
Salvador Dali
Print - 74.9 x 54.6 x 0.3 cm Print - 29.5 x 21.5 x 0.1 inch
$2,250
On voit cette reine ... - L'Art d'Aimer - Ovide
Salvador Dali
Print - 56 x 38 x 0.1 cm Print - 22 x 15 x 0 inch
$1,073
Pylades Loved Ermione
Salvador Dali
Print - 75.5 x 53.7 x 0.1 cm Print - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0 inch
$2,146
La Fille de Minos (Daughter of Minos)
Salvador Dali
Print - 75.5 x 53.7 x 0.1 cm Print - 29.7 x 21.1 x 0 inch
$2,384
El Arcabuz Produce Monsters
Salvador Dali
Print - 23.5 x 17.2 x 0.2 cm Print - 9.3 x 6.8 x 0.1 inch
$1,431
L’Hirondelle (The Swallow)
Salvador Dali
Print - 71.1 x 91.4 x 2.54 cm Print - 28 x 36 x 1 inch
$3,500
Mais ô belle Dionée... - L'Art d'Aimer - Ovide
Salvador Dali
Print - 56 x 38 x 0.1 cm Print - 22 x 15 x 0 inch
$1,073
The Twelves Apostles / Knights Of The Round Table - James the Lesser / Vicar of Britain
Salvador Dali
Print - 65 x 48 x 0.1 cm Print - 25.6 x 18.9 x 0 inch
$1,431
The Twelves Apostles / Knights Of The Round Table - Andrew / Vision of Camelot
Salvador Dali
Print - 65 x 48 x 0.1 cm Print - 25.6 x 18.9 x 0 inch
$1,431
The Path to Wisdom (The Banker)
Salvador Dali
Print - 74.6 x 54.6 x 0.3 cm Print - 29.375 x 21.5 x 0.1 inch
$2,250
The Death of Clorinda from The Marquis de Sade
Salvador Dali
Print - 52.5 x 42.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 20.7 x 16.7 x 0 inch
$4,602
Miserable Flat from The Marquis de Sade
Salvador Dali
Print - 52.5 x 42.5 x 0.1 cm Print - 20.7 x 16.7 x 0 inch
$4,602
The Prison from The Marquis de Sade
Salvador Dali
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$4,602
Plate from 'Tristan and Isolde': Tristan's Testament
Salvador Dali
Print - 44 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print - 17.3 x 12.6 x 0 inch
$1,967
Principio de Incertidumbre de Heisenberg
Salvador Dali
Print - 43 x 32 x 0.1 cm Print - 16.9 x 12.6 x 0 inch
$1,550
The Woman Taken in Adultery
Salvador Dali
Print - 45 x 31 x 0.1 cm Print - 17.7 x 12.2 x 0 inch
$1,192
Aquellos armarios tinosos
Salvador Dali
Print - 23.5 x 17 x 0.2 cm Print - 9.3 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,371
Les suprenes de maillaise liliputiens from Diners a Gala
Salvador Dali
Print - 55.9 x 74.9 cm Print - 22 x 29.5 inch
$2,500
Jeremiah from Our Historical Heritage
Salvador Dali
Print - 66 x 50.5 cm Print - 26 x 19.88 inch
$4,500
Le Cheval s'étant voulu venger du Cerf
Salvador Dali
Print - 57 x 76 x 0.05 cm Print - 22.4 x 29.9 x 0 inch
$2,384 $2,146
The Lady Dulcinea
Salvador Dali
Print - 75.9 x 56.2 x 0.3 cm Print - 29.875 x 22.125 x 0.1 inch
$3,000
Le cercle visceral du Cosmos from La Conquete du Cosmos
Salvador Dali
Print - 97.8 x 69.9 cm Print - 38.5 x 27.5 inch
$4,500
Jack of Clubs from Playing Cards
Salvador Dali
Print - 65.5 x 51 x 0.1 cm Print - 25.8 x 20.1 x 0 inch
$11,540
Hommage à Konrad Adenauer
Salvador Dali
Print - 52 x 38.5 x 1 cm Print - 20.5 x 15.2 x 0.4 inch
$3,433
Outside The Bull Ring: The Fruit Seller from Carmen
Salvador Dali
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$4,602
Le Portrait de La Fontaine
Salvador Dali
Print - 76 x 57 x 0.05 cm Print - 29.9 x 22.4 x 0 inch
$1,431 $1,287
Toulouse-Lautrec (From: Quinze Gravures)
Salvador Dali
Print - 45 x 31.5 x 1 cm Print - 17.7 x 12.4 x 0.4 inch
$3,576
Portrait de Calderón (from Calderón: La Vie est un songe)
Salvador Dali
Print - 65 x 51 x 1 cm Print - 25.6 x 20.1 x 0.4 inch
$3,576
The Horse that Wanted Revenge on the Stag
Salvador Dali
Print - 59 x 79 x 0.1 cm Print - 23.2 x 31.1 x 0 inch
$1,609
A plate, from Les Songes drolatiques de Pantagruel
Salvador Dali
Print - 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm Print - 29.9 x 22 x 0 inch
$4,387
Zebulun, from Twelve Tribes of Israel
Salvador Dali
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$5,794
Tancreds Oath from Marquis de Sade
Salvador Dali
Print - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$4,602
Le Cerf se voyant dans l'eau
Salvador Dali
Print - 76 x 57 x 0.05 cm Print - 29.9 x 22.4 x 0 inch
$2,384 $2,027
L'Eléphant et le Singe de Jupiter
Salvador Dali
Print - 57 x 76 x 0.05 cm Print - 22.4 x 29.9 x 0 inch
$2,384
Henry V, from Much Ado about Shakespeare
Salvador Dali
Print - 17.1 x 12.7 cm Print - 6.75 x 5 inch
$3,000
Homage a Leonardo da Vinci - Airplane
Salvador Dali
Print - 56 x 76 x 0.1 cm Print - 22 x 29.9 x 0 inch
$1,907
Rembrandt - Portrait du peintre par lui-même
Salvador Dali
Print - 84 x 63 x 0.1 cm Print - 33.1 x 24.8 x 0 inch
$4,745
The Immaculate Conception
Salvador Dali
Print - 60 x 46 x 0.1 cm Print - 23.6 x 18.1 x 0 inch
$5,937
Hommage aux Petits Lits Blancs (L'art dans les bijoux)
Salvador Dali
Print - 76 x 56 x 0.1 cm Print - 29.9 x 22 x 0 inch
$4,983