Exploding Pollen (1992) is emblematic of Rosenquist’s late-career exploration of ecological themes. The work references bees—creatures vital to the planet’s food systems and climate stability—while evoking both celebration and lament. During the 1990s, concerns about urbanization, rising temperatures, and pesticide use began drawing attention to the decline of bee populations. Rosenquist’s dynamic composition, bursting with color and motion, transforms this natural process into a cosmic metaphor for life, fragility, and interconnectedness.

His art from this period often fused environmental and existential questions within the visual vocabulary of Pop, creating works that are both sensorially engaging and intellectually charged.