LACMA

ShopMembershipMyLACMATickets
LACMA
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
info@lacma.org
(323) 857-6000
Sign up to receive emails
Subscribe
© Museum Associates 2026
  • About LACMA
  • Jobs
  • Building LACMA
  • Host An Event
  • Unframed
  • Press
  • FAQs
  • Log in to MyLACMA
  • Privacy Policy
© Museum Associates 2026
Collections

Gordon Wagner
Between Heaven and Hell1960-1965

Not on view
Mixed-media assemblage sculpture with arched wooden crown, iron scrollwork, cowrie shell strands, gold lace trim, dark cylindrical lower section, and small found objects at the base
Mixed-media assemblage mounted on wall, featuring a wooden cross-like frame with scrolled iron details atop a cylindrical form. Layers include turquoise-painted panels, a draped gold lace trim, a strand of small shells, corrugated dark material, and scattered natural objects including dried fungi and bones at the base.
Assemblage sculpture combining found and repurposed objects: a wooden spindle and semicircular frame form a cross shape at top, with curled wrought-iron scrollwork at the ends; below, a weathered turquoise-painted board serves as a backing, holding a gilded cherub figure, two strands of white stones or shells, and fragments of dark painted wood. The base is draped with gold metallic lace fringe.
Mixed-media assemblage detail showing a curved wooden base trimmed with gold braid, containing small figurines, an animal skull, and metal leaf forms, set against a charred dark column with orange fibrous material at top and a small green figure above.
Mixed-media assemblage featuring an open box lined with teal fabric and trimmed with gold lace, containing small animal bones and skeletal forms; two strands of strung bone or clay fragments hang above from a weathered painted wooden backing with partial text reading 'MEN.'

Gordon Wagner, Between Heaven and Hell, 1960-1965, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Gift of Virginia Wagner, photo © Museum Associates / LACMA

Artist or Maker
Gordon Wagner
United States, California, active California, Redondo Beach, 1915-1987
Title
Between Heaven and Hell
Place Made
United States
Date Made
1960-1965
Medium
Wood, metal, stones, bones, dolls, fabric, and oil paint
Dimensions
73 x 23 x 10 in. (185.42 x 58.42 x 25.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Virginia Wagner
Accession Number
AC1992.117.1.1-.5
Classification
Sculpture
Collecting Area
Modern Art
Copyright
© The Estate of Gordon Wagner