James Rizzi - WHICH WAY IS UP - 1990s

This is a work by James Rizzi.
It is titled “Which Way Is Up?” (¿Cuál es el camino hacia arriba?).
Details:
• Artist: James Rizzi (New York, 1950-2011), famous for his cheerful, colorful, naïve pop art style.
• Technique: It is a screen print (or lithograph) in 3D. Rizzi is known for his three-dimensional works: he prints several layers of paper and mounts them with spacers so that some elements (balloons, figures, ribbons) protrude from the plane, creating depth and movement.
• Theme: A sky full of highly decorated hot air balloons with faces, fruits, animals, geometric patterns, hearts, suns, moons, etc. All with his characteristic vibrant palette and his childlike, optimistic stroke.
The phrase of the title appears at the bottom:
“JAMES UP? SI WAY WHICH WAY R I Z Z I” (a wordplay with his name and the title of the work).
It is one of his most popular and decorative pieces. His style conveys joy, lightness, and good humor, very typical of the 1980s-1990s.