‘Artworks for Teenage Boys’ represents an initial artistic venture of contemporary artists Rob Pruitt and Jack Early. Executed in the late 1980s, this sculptural work made of decal adorned Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans reflects the same series that was featured in their first joint exhibition, also called 'Artworks for Teenage Boys', at 303 Gallery in New York in 1991. As demonstrated by this beer can tower, Pruitt and Early’s early work examined the fantasies and desires of adolescent boys. Cars, pin-up girls, sports, rock and roll, and comic-book characters each make an appearance on the stacked beer cans. With this series, Pruitt and Early established their progressive reputation as the bad boys of contemporary art scene.

Rob Pruitt (b. 1964) and Jack Early (b. 1963) began their partnership studying art together in Washington D.C.’s Corcoran School. Moving to New York City, they attempted to work for famed Pop Artist Andy Warhol, but were dejected to find they would only have unpaid jobs as gophers. By the mid-80’s, their work often took the tone of teenage angst and paraphernalia, which they attributed to feelings of emptiness their own generation was experiencing. The duo often stacked towers of empty beer cans; slathering them with images, silk screened paintings, or stickers of logos, cartoons, pin-ups, and various other cultural icons. They have exhibited at Leo Casteli in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and with Francois Pinault Collection in Punta Della Dogana, Venice amongst others.