Portfolio Cover for the Joy of Ornament

About this artwork

**Portfolio Cover for the Joy ofnament** (1980) by Robertner invites visitors into a world of exuberant design. This compact portfolio cover, measuring approximately 11¾ x 6½ inches when folded and expanding to 11¾ x 13¼ inches, serves as the enticing gateway to a collection of prints celebrating decorative arts. Crafted from printed fabric—a tactile medium evoking textiles and crafts—adorned with a mountedographic title card, it analog printing techniques with the era's emerging photocopy technology, highlighting 1980s experimentation at the intersection of fine art and reproduction. Kushner's work here embodies the late 20th-century revival of ornamentation, a playful rebuke to minimalist austerity. The title, *The Joy of Ornament*, whimsically echoes everyday craft books while elevating pattern-making to high art. Donated to the National Gallery of Art by pioneering print publisher Kathan Brown, founder of Crown Point Press, this piece reflects collaborative printmaking culture, where artists like Kushner pushed boundaries with vibrant, fabric-based aesthetics. Step closer to feel its luxurious texture— a delightful reminder that beauty thrives in embellishment!