In The Simpsons episode “3 Scenes Plus a Tag From a Marriage,” Homer and Marge remember what it was like when they were first married. Before they became parents. Back then, Marge worked as a reporter for Springfield Shopper. Her boss was JJ Gruff (voiced by Oscar-winner actor JK Simmons, Whiplash). In one scene, Marge takes her notebook to an art opening. There she interviews conceptual artist John Baldessari (who voices himself).
In the episode, The Simpsons creator Matt Groenig pays homage to the work of the 86-year-old Baldessari, an American conceptual artist who lives and works in Santa Monica, California. In the art gallery scene, there is a Baldessari-like series of paintings hanging on the walls. Large bold paintings featuring opaque faces with cut out ears and noses “glued” on. In January 2018, Baldessari’s collaboration with fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti, “Noses Elbows and Knees,” was shown at New York City’s Half Gallery (see photos below). The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8pm on FOX, right before Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
