Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), an alumni and former teacher of studio art classes at Ohio State, was a pioneer in the pop art movement of the 1960s. Lichtenstein’s influential career as an artist began with his early work imitating comic book imagery and his translation of a Picasso and a Cezanne painting to his own cartoon style. Later, the artist added sculpture to his skillset and began his own series of paintings and sculptures.
Today, the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation serves as a gateway for the public to access his art. The foundation has established two endowments at Ohio State to support endowed chairs in art history and studio art. As a tribute to the late influencer, the foundation also donated the 31-foot “Modern Head” sculpture, which sits between Smith and McPherson laboratories on Ohio State’s campus.