Roy Lichtenstein American, 1923-1997

Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997) was a pioneering American artist best known for his bold, comic book–inspired paintings that helped define the Pop Art movement. Born in New York City, he studied at Ohio State University, where he later taught, and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. In the early 1960s, Lichtenstein gained fame for works like Whaam! and Drowning Girl, which transformed mass-produced imagery into high art through his use of Ben-Day dots, speech bubbles, and flat primary colors. His work challenged traditional distinctions between commercial and fine art, blending irony, wit, and cultural critique. Over his career, he produced more than 5,000 works across painting, sculpture, and printmaking, leaving an indelible mark on 20th-century art.