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Pippa Garner, an American artist celebrated for her satirical critiques of consumer culture, passed away on December 30, 2024, at the age of 82 in Los Angeles.
Born Philip Garner in Evanston, Illinois, in 1942, she began her career as a U.S. Army combat artist during the Vietnam War, documenting the conflict through sketches and paintings. After her military service, Garner studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Los Angeles but was expelled after submitting a provocative project titled “Kar-Mann,” a half-human, half-car sculpture completed in 1969.
In the 1970s, she gained attention for “Backwards Car” (1974), a modified Chevrolet that appeared to be driving in reverse, featured in Esquire magazine in 1975. Garner’s work often involved creating parody consumer products, critiquing societal norms and materialism. Her publications, such as The Better Living Catalog (1982) and Utopia—or Bust! Products for the Perfect World (1984), showcased her inventive designs, including an escalator-ladder hybrid and a clapping alarm clock.
In the 1980s, Garner transitioned genders, adopting the name Pippa, and described this personal transformation as an extension of her artistic practice, challenging societal stereotypes and norms.Her recent exhibitions include “Act Like You Know Me” at White Columns and “$ELL YOUR $ELF” at Art Omi in 2023, as well as participation in the 2024 Whitney Biennial.
Garner’s innovative and humorous approach to art left a lasting impact on the contemporary art scene, inspiring audiences to question consumerism and societal conventions.
Photos: Pippa Garner