American artist James Rosenquist (1933-2017) was one of the seminal figures of the pop art movement. Drawing on his early experience as a sign painter, Rosenquist often depicted popular cultural icons and mundane everyday objects with elements of surrealism as well as fragments of advertisements and cultural imagery.

The Green Gallery was in operation from 1960 to 1965 under the direction of Richard Bellamy. Though short lived and not a commercial success, the gallery was distinguished by Bellamy's wide-ranging taste and his presentation of artists working in directions that soon became recognized as vital trends.