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The Work

Dave Muller, Cats and Dogs, 2018. Acrylic and sign enamel on gessoed plywood, 58.5 x 58.5 x 1.25 inches (148.59 x 148.59 x 3.18 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Gift of Nancy A. Nasher (L’79, P’18, P’22) and David J. Haemisegger (P’18, P’22), 2019.4.1. © Dave Muller. Courtesy of the artist and Blum & Poe, Los Angeles/New York/Tokyo. Photo by Heather Rasmussen.
Dave Muller, Cats and Dogs, 2018. Acrylic and sign enamel on gessoed plywood, 58.5 x 58.5 x 1.25 inches (148.59 x 148.59 x 3.18 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Gift of Nancy A. Nasher (L’79, P’18, P’22) and David J. Haemisegger (P’18, P’22), 2019.4.1. © Dave Muller. Courtesy of the artist and Blum & Poe, Los Angeles/New York/Tokyo. Photo by Heather Rasmussen.

A recent acquisition that is part of Cosmic Rhythm Vibrations is a triptych of three round paintings, one inside the other, by California-based artist Dave Muller. Vinyl record labels, specifically from 45 singles, serve as Muller’s archival material and inspirational subject matter in Cats and Dogs. Each record label is painstakingly reproduced, complete with sales stickers and wear and tear from years of handling that read as markers of time and affection, and also as a portrait of a theme. The title of each song refers to rain: Prince’s “Purple Rain” on the outside, Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” inside of that and The Beatles “Rain” at the center.

P.4 artist Dave Muller poses with posies (leftover from the wedding of Serena Williams) in front of his mural, Grass, Birds, Congo Square Sign, Cypress Knees, Swamp Plants, Spinet, Sidney Becker Sculpture, 78 RPM Record Sleeve, Second Line, American Music Labels, Vine, One Mississippi, The Clarinet, Palmetto, Monk Parakeet, Brass Band Flyer, Magnolia, at the Contemporary Arts Center. Photo by J Caldwell.

The Artist

Muller is a conceptual artist who frequently uses music as a lens through which to examine cultural identity and social history. This is his first work to enter the Nasher’s collection, though his work was included in the exhibition The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl in 2010. Cats and Dogs was a gift from Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger.

Featured Featured exhibition

Cosmic Rhythm Vibrations

September 28, 2019 – March 01, 2020

This exhibition highlights works from the Nasher Museum collection that engage visual and musical rhythm. Rhythm may be expressed through repeated patterns of color, form or movement, or, in other cases, implied sound and ...

Prospect.4 Audio Postcard

P.4 artist Dave Muller poses with posies (leftover from the wedding of Serena Williams) in front of his mural, Grass, Birds, Congo Square Sign, Cypress Knees, Swamp Plants, Spinet, Sidney Becker Sculpture, 78 RPM Record Sleeve, Second Line, American Music Labels, Vine, One Mississippi, The Clarinet, Palmetto, Monk Parakeet, Brass Band Flyer, Magnolia, at the Contemporary Arts Center. Photo by J Caldwell.

Listen to Muller speak about his work in Prospect 4
Featured Featured exhibition

The Record: Contemporary Art & Vinyl

September 02, 2010 – February 06, 2011

The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl was the first museum exhibition to explore the culture of vinyl records within the history of contemporary art. Bringing together artists from around the world who work with ...

Featured Featured Articles

The Record Draws Artists, Celebrities & Luminaries

We knew The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl would attract folks who had never been to the Nasher Museum. We did not expect such a glittering list of famous artists, writers and musicians! The photo album of lum...

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