Claes Oldenburg's Circus: Ironworks/Fotodeath at the Reuben Gallery in February 1961

In February 1961, Claes Oldenburg presented his performance piece Circus: Ironworks/Fotodeath at the Reuben Gallery in New York. The event featured participants including Pat Oldenburg, Henry Edelheit, and Fred McDarrah, with photographer Robert R. McElroy capturing the scene. McElroy's image shows Pat Oldenburg on a ladder, Henry Edelheit at center wearing glasses, and Fred McDarrah on the right holding a camera. This documentation was later published on artcritical on March 11, 2012, under a license from VAGA in New York. The work exemplifies Oldenburg's early explorations into Happenings and pop art, blending theatrical elements with visual art in a gallery setting. The Reuben Gallery, a notable downtown venue, hosted avant-garde performances during this period, contributing to the New York art scene's dynamic evolution. The photograph serves as a historical record of this ephemeral event, highlighting the collaborative nature of Oldenburg's practice and the role of photography in archiving performance art.