Zodiac Love: Plaster Sex Sculptures by Tom Otterness (1982–87)

American sculptor Tom Otterness (born. 1952) was an organisers of Art Direct, a mail-order art catalog published by Collaborative Projects (Colab) and Printed Matter, Inc. for Christmas 1982. Colab sought cultural activism that was purely artist driven. In addition to creating the page advertising his “Zodiac Love” plasters, Otterness also designed the catalogue’s cover.

 

 

Otterness’ work is all around us. You can see his works in parks, plazas, subway stations, libraries, courthouses and museums, notably in New York City’s Rockefeller Park, his Real World sculpture in Battery Park City and Life Underground, a permanent artwork for the New York City Subway’s 14th Street/Eighth Avenue station.

His work, often whimsical and cartoonish, speaks of class, sex, money and race.

Before making Zodiac Love, in 1979, Otterness sold small, plaster figures for $4.99 at Artists Space in New York for the 1979 holiday season. His inspiration was the plaster replicas of Jesus, Elvis and Santería sculptures sold in botánica shops in the Bronx. “I thought ‘Oh, this is public art,'” he said. “This is something that everyone can afford and take home.”

 

 

 

 

All 12 Zodiac Love Plaster Sculptures

The Zodiac sculptures were suggested to Otterness by an acquaintance who owned a botánica in the South Bronx and operated a factory that made plaster statuary for homes and gardens. The inspiration also came from the 1970s fad of zodiac signs, the karma sutra and books like Joy of Sex, the 1972 illustrated sex manual by British author Alex Comfort.

The Zodiac series was an open edition but since it was marketed primarily through alternative art venues only a limited number was actually made. All apparently date from before 1987.

 

Tom Otterness, “Zodiac Love” Plaster Sculptures, 1982–87, images via Gallery98.