ARTnews Surveys Robert Rauschenberg's Legacy on Centennial 'Rauschenberg 100'
The Facts
On July 10, 2026, ARTnews published a survey of Robert Rauschenberg's career on the occasion of "Rauschenberg 100," a celebration of the artist's centennial year. Rauschenberg (1925–2008) produced an estimated 10,000 works, most famously his "combines" begun in the mid-1950s—assemblages of found objects from lower Manhattan streets augmented with paint. He worked across photography, performance, dance, printmaking, and art-and-technology collaborations. The article, written by Howard Halle, emphasizes Rauschenberg's role in the transition from Abstract Expressionism and his Neo-Dadaist label alongside Jasper Johns.
The Signal
The centennial survey underscores Rauschenberg's enduring institutional and market significance. His combines remain blue-chip, with prices regularly exceeding $10 million at auction, and his interdisciplinary approach continues to influence contemporary art. The celebration signals sustained curatorial interest in his legacy, particularly his blending of high and low culture, which resonates with current trends in assemblage and appropriation art. For collectors, the survey reaffirms Rauschenberg's position as a pivotal figure in postwar American art.
- Artists: Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns
- People: Howard Halle
- Galleries: Thaddaeus Ropac
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