“Stop and look at this "Cut-Out Nude" by Tom Blackwell. Its unusual blow-formed screenprinted vinyl gives the figure a unique, almost sculptural presence, making it a fascinating example of 1960s artistic experimentation with new materials and forms.”
This artwork, "Cut-Out Nude," presents a striking figure in a way that feels both familiar and entirely modern. Created in 1965 by Tom Blackwell, the piece uses blow-formed screenprinted vinyl, a medium that gives the nude a sculptural, almost three-dimensional presence, despite its flat surface. The figure appears to float, detached from any specific setting, emphasizing its form and the starkness of its outline. This approach reflects the experimental spirit of the mid-1960s, a time when artists were pushing the boundaries of traditional painting and sculpture, exploring new materials and techniques. Blackwell, who began his career in abstract expressionism before moving into Pop Art, used this work to explore the human form through a distinctly contemporary lens, moving beyond conventional representation to create something both iconic and intriguing.
- Artist
- Tom Blackwell
- Date
- 1965
- Medium
- Blow-formed screenprinted vinyl
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 20 × 41 cm (7 7/8 × 16 3/16 in.)
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The way the figure seems to pop out from the surface.
The stark, clean lines defining the nude's silhouette.
The texture of the blow-formed vinyl, visible up close.
The absence of a background, focusing all attention on the figure.
Tom Blackwell
1938–2020 · United StatesTom Blackwell, a leading first-generation Photorealist, captured the gleaming chrome of motorcycles and the complex reflections of storefront windows.
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Impregnazione
Piero Manzoni · 1958
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Roy Lichtenstein · 1966 · Art Institute of Chicago
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Captain Joseph Medill Patterson
Ivan Puni · 1962 · Art Institute of Chicago
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Philip Evergood · 1955 · Smithsonian American Art Museum
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Pablo Picasso · 1959 · Art Institute of Chicago
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