Artwork measures 15 x 11 inches (38.1 x 27.9 cm). Framed under Plexiglas.

Infused with surrealist humor, this work on paper by Ricky Swallow depicts a pipe with a bowl in the shape of a decorative skull, lying casually alongside a real human skull.

Ricky Swallow (Australian, b. 1974) is best known for his sculptural works which transfigure everyday objects through subtle experimentations in texture and form. The concepts of the still life and the model recur throughout Swallow’s work, which is made primarily from wood or bronze. A recent development in Swallow’s practice is his creation of sculptures from objects found in Los Angeles flea markets. He received his BFA in Drawing from the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia in 1997. He has exhibited in solo and group shows at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, Australia (2001); Tate Liverpool, England (2002); the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA (2005); the Yokohama Museum of Art, Japan (2007); the Aspen Art Museum, CO (2007, 2008, and 2010); Kunsthalle Vienna, Austria (2007); the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia (2009); and the British Museum, London, England (2010), among many others. In 2005, he represented Australia at the Venice Biennale. He lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.