Daniel Spoerri

Kichka's Breakfast I

1960

Wood chair hung on wall with board across seat, coffeepot, tumbler, china, eggcups, eggshells, cigarette butts, spoons, tin cans, and other materials

Not on view

Spoerri, a self-proclaimed “paster of found situations,” made this assemblage from his girlfriend Kichka’s leftover breakfast while waiting for some visitors. “I pasted together the morning’s breakfast, which was still there by chance,” he has explained, including dishes, utensils, food, and cigarettes, mounted on a small chair and wood panel. The sculpture is displayed on the wall so it “defies the laws of gravity” and “the view to which we are accustomed,” the artist has said. Spoerri’s reliance on chance and his use of found objects reflects the debt to the Dada movement that he shared with other Nouveau Réaliste artists.

Gallery label from

Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen, September 15, 2010–March 14, 2011

Kids label from 2025

Frozen Food

Daniel Spoerri created this sculpture after his girlfriend, Kichka, finished her breakfast. He made it by gluing down the items she left on the table. He called this type of artwork “Eat Art.”

Looking at her leftovers, what do you think Kichka had for breakfast?

Medium Wood chair hung on wall with board across seat, coffeepot, tumbler, china, eggcups, eggshells, cigarette butts, spoons, tin cans, and other materials
Dimensions 14 3/8 x 27 3/8 x 25 3/4" (36.6 x 69.5 x 65.4 cm)
Credit Philip Johnson Fund
Object number 391.1961
Department Painting & Sculpture

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