One of the youngest members of the midcentury California arts scene, Tony Berlant is best known for his quirky, collaged assemblages that transform found images and materials into delightfully surreal tableaux. To create My Planet, Berlant hammered pieces of tin to a plywood surface with steel brads, which become part of the overall composition. Here, the artist brings together imagery related to astronomy, produce, and Marilyn Monroe. Shortly after the death of the actress turned pop icon in Los Angeles in 1962, Andy Warhol began employing her image in a variety of works. Here, Berlant presents her as a sex symbol surrounded by the innuendo-laden imagery of ripened fruit and vegetables. The concept for each of Berlant’s works hails from myriad photographs, sketches, and notations. “The more personal and introspective an artwork is,” he said, “the more universal it becomes.”

Label from Giant Steps: Artists and the 1960s, June 30–December 30, 2018