Robert Rauschenberg
Paintings and Sculptures
1948–1953
53.024 / 103
103 Untitled (Elemental Sculpture), 1953 (?)
Malleable iron split pipe ring, metal strap, stone, eye lag screw, machine screws, and nuts
97/8 × 181/2 × 14 in. (25 × 47 × 35.6 cm)
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Purchase through a gift of Phyllis C. Wattis (98.305)
RRF 53.024


PROVENANCEGaps in the provenance are indicated by “(?)” for a single unidentified owner and “(. . .)” for multiple unidentified owners. See Guide.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, purchase, 1998 (via PaceWildenstein, New York)


EXHIBITIONS
1990s

Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Robert Rauschenberg: The Early 1950s, June 15–August 11, 1991. Organized by Menil Collection, Houston. Traveled to Menil Collection, Houston, September 27, 1991–January 5, 1992; Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, February 8–April 19, 1992; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, May 14–August 16, 1992; Guggenheim Museum SoHo, New York, October 24, 1992–January 24, 1993. 

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Robert Rauschenberg: A Retrospective, September 19, 1997–January 7, 1998 (also Guggenheim Museum SoHo, New York, September 19, 1997–January 4, 1998, and Ace Gallery, New York, September 19–November 9, 1997). Traveled to Menil Collection, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 13–May 17, 1998; Museum Ludwig, Cologne (as Robert Rauschenberg: Retrospektive), June 27–October 11, 1998; Museo Guggenheim Bilbao (as Robert Rauschenberg: Retrospectiva), November 21, 1998–March 7, 1999. no. 50

2000s

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Treasures of Modern Art: The Legacy of Phyllis Wattis at SFMOMA, January 30–June 24, 2003. 

2010s

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 75 Years of Looking Forward: The Anniversary Show, December 19, 2009–January 16, 2011. (not in cat.)

Tate Modern, London, Robert Rauschenberg, December 1, 2016–April 2, 2017. Organized with Museum of Modern Art, New York. Traveled to Museum of Modern Art, New York (as Robert Rauschenberg: Among Friends), May 21–September 17, 2017; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (as Robert Rauschenberg: Erasing the Rules), November 18, 2017–March 25, 2018. 



LITERATURE
1990s

Hopps, Walter. Robert Rauschenberg: The Early 1950s. Houston: Menil Collection; Houston Fine Art Press, 1991. Exhibition catalogue. pp. 155, 159, 194 (pl. 121)

Hopps, Walter, and Susan Davidson. Robert Rauschenberg: A Retrospective. New York: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, 1997. Exhibition catalogue. no. 50, p. 80 (pl. 50)

2000s

Lanchner, Carolyn. Robert Rauschenberg. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 2009. pp. 12, 13 (fig. 4)

2010s

Roberts, Sarah. “Untitled (Elemental Sculpture) [steel flange and stone].” Rauschenberg Research Project, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, July 2013. (figs. 1, 4, 5 [install], 6 [detail])

Dickerman, Leah, and Achim Borchardt-Hume. Robert Rauschenberg. New York: Museum of Modern Art; London: Tate Publishing, 2016. Exhibition catalogue. p. 113 (pl. 74)