Marilyn Monroe, I

1957–1960

A billboard painter in Times Square

He first worked as a chauffeur, then joined the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades and from 1957 to 1960 earned his living painting billboards around Times Square, becoming lead painter for Artkraft-Strauss and painting displays and windows across Fifth Avenue. He later recalled painting billboards above every candy store in Brooklyn and being able to paint a Schenley whiskey bottle in his sleep.

1960

Gives up sign painting after a friend’s death

By 1960 Rosenquist abandoned sign painting after a friend died falling from scaffolding on the job. Instead of commercial work he focused on personal projects in his own studio, developing a style that kept the imagery, bold hues and scale of his billboard work; from 1960 he began to make large-format canvases based on advertising posters in the Pop Art manner.

5 June 1960

Marries Mary Lou Adams

On 5 June 1960 Rosenquist married Mary Lou Adams; they had a son, John. The marriage ended in divorce.

1962

First solo exhibition at the Green Gallery

In 1962 Rosenquist’s first solo exhibition was held at the Green Gallery in New York and attracted great attention from the public and the press.

1963

A second Green Gallery show and “Young Talent USA”

In 1963 Rosenquist had his second solo exhibition at the Green Gallery and was selected for Art in America’s “Young Talent USA”.

1964

Meets Andy Warhol

Critics grouped Rosenquist with the Pop artists because he used recognisable imagery, but he did not meet Andy Warhol until 1964 and did not know Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein very well: in his words, they all emerged separately.