Pop Pop Pop Goes The Dime

Who is the greatest living pop artist? What is pop art?

James Rosenquist's retrospective at the Gugg in late 2003 was my first real introduction to his art, but one filled with many relevant contact points. Oh, it's pop art. The color, the geometry, the imagery, the politics, the commercialism and the irreverance...sometimes subtle, sometimes not, Rosenquist's works spoke to me immediately.

Last week the Time Warner Center, hosted "Coffee, Flavour, Ideas" where illy promoted their collaboration with Rosenquist on a new limited edition can design and and a set of cups to add to their collection along with Jeff Koons, David Byrne, Robert Rauschenberg, Francis Coppola and a slew of others.

illy first hooked up with Rosenquist in 1996 when he was asked to remix their logo...fitting for a man who started his career painting billboard advertisements. Art and commerce, like coffee and milk...two great tastes that taste great together. I couldnt make it to the illy event, but Justin hooked me up with a signed coffee can.