Apples and Oranges 1987

Donald Sultan, born in 1951, created "Apples and Oranges", which offers a contemporary take on the still life genre. This piece is a visual study of color, form, and composition. Sultan, working in a period marked by shifts in artistic styles, deliberately chose subjects from everyday life and elevated them through his unique approach. His use of industrial materials contrasted sharply with the traditional techniques of still life painting. Sultan once said, “I wanted to make something monumental out of daily life.” The oranges and apples might seem ordinary, but they act as vehicles for exploring contrasts—between natural and artificial, representation and abstraction. The textures, colors, and arrangements create a tension that invites viewers to contemplate the simplicity and complexity of existence. Through this artwork, Sultan challenges conventional expectations, urging us to find beauty in the mundane and reconsider our perceptions of the world around us.