Bruce Conner's 1964 Interview on Assemblage Art and the British Museum

In December 1964, Bruce Conner held his first solo exhibition at London's Robert Fraser Gallery, where he discussed his artistic practice with Barrie Sturt-Penrose for The Arts Review. Conner explained that his interest in assemblage predated the post-war movement, tracing it back to his high school years in 1950. He described how objects could reveal personality, citing a dinner party hosted by Daniel Spoerri where leftovers became unintentional portraits. Conner argued that all objects, from Coca-Cola bottles to the Elgin Marbles, possess artistic merit based on their associations. He rejected the notion that assemblage artists in the United States operated as a coordinated group, emphasizing individual creative paths. The artist mentioned living in San Francisco from 1957 to 1962 and later spending a year in Mexico, where many works for the Fraser Gallery show originated. Conner stated he did not see himself confined to assemblage long-term, envisioning future work across various media. He questioned whether the British Museum itself could be considered one massive assemblage.