Gallery of the Absurd

2 Girls 1 Gallery

Final Announcement, More Details and Price List for June 5 Art Show

All are invited to the WOW Storefront Gallery's opening reception this Friday. I've finally finished all my work and will be showing the 40 bits of absurdity I've been working on these last couple of months. While it was originally going to be a solo show, I'm happily pleased to announce that B. Calinsky, an LA-based artist is also joining me, hence the official name of the show: 2 Girls 1 Gallery. Calinsky explores the phenomenon of pets as accessories by demonstrating how cuddly creatures take on a different role when coupled with more provocative subjects. The show will open with an open bar, and continues for 2 weeks through 6/15. Hours are 12pm - 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday, during which artworks are available for purchase.

List of Available Works by 14

A list of work along with prices is available here. Just click on the thumbnails for more details.  I've included everything from paintings, to sketches and hand-painted one-of-a-kind prints. If you ever felt the need to own the original sketches for Gary Busey: Deranged Lunatic or Britney Spears: Photoshop in a Can, then this is your chance.

Buy me or else I'll unleash deranged outbursts upon you! 

About the Gallery

Co-curated by James St James, Steven Corfe and Thairin Smothers, the gallery has celebrated pop culture in a multitude of mediums. “From high art to low brow,” the gallery always strived to set itself apart from the cold, impersonal elitism of the current art scene, by introducing new artists and giving local personalities a platform and a voice in which to be heard. In my experience, WOW Gallery has always been more fun and more professional than some of these so-called "bigger name" galleries I've shown with, so I'm saddened to announce that this will be their final show.  

I'm glad to be finished with this GOTA 1.0 body of work featuring paintings from my four year project of observing and documenting the narratives of celebrity gossip.  I'm taking a little travel break and will return soon to start posting several series of new work I'm planning for GOTA 2.0. Hope to see you at the show!

Paris Hilton Fresh Off The Easel

Finished just moments ago, here's a revamped version of American Royalty. I always wanted to make a larger, more loosely painted version of the original, so I went ahead and had some fun with it. Lovely Paris is shown posing seductively as she prepares to stuff a sizable hunk of meat between her parted lips while gobs of mustard drips onto her exposed thighs. Her throne is painted with fine gold metallic paint as homage to her royal heritage. Too large to scan, I had to rely on my camera and bad light, therefore, here are a few close ups of the scariest parts:

Medium: An enlarged black and white sketch affixed to African paper and then painted over with acrylic.

Gallery of The Absurd Art Show: The Process

I've missed blogging so I took a photo of the current state of my studio and am posting it in order to get my fix. Jocelyn Wildenstein is being repainted on a larger scale and with better materials while a ladylike image of Paris Hilton and Crabby waits on the sidelines to be finished.  Okay, that's all. Back soon.

Gallery Show: Macho Cheese at Seattle's Joe Bar

I'm thrilled to be participating in a group art show called Macho Cheese. Curated by the super talented Chris Crites, Macho Cheese celebrates the time when the cheesy macho man reigned supreme. Remember back in the 70's and early 80's when TV and movies were just oozing machismo? Big bushy Tom Selleck mustaches, Hulk Hogan, Telly Savalas, Mr. T, Burt Reynolds, Firebirds, mullets, wrestling, etc., this show will revisit the cheesiness of the over the top macho man. I'll be showing my Rod Stewart painting titled "Rod Stewart Digs for Gold While Wearing a Billowing White Poet's Shirt." It was inspired by one of my very favorite paparazzi photos of Rod and the moment I saw it, his macho 70's cheesiness catapulted to a whole new level. Other artists include Kamala Dolphin Kingsley, Clair Johnson, Francesca Berrini and Kelly Lyles. Show opens Dec. 10 from 6 - 8 at Seattle's Joe Bar and continues through the end of the month.

Dolly Parton Art Show Announcement: Dollypop

The WOW Storefront Gallery folks put on some of the most entertaining and fun pop culture-themed art shows in Los Angeles and I'm pleased to be included in their latest - Dollypop, a celebration of beloved country star Dolly Parton. Opening this Friday, Sept. 12 in conjunction with with the premiere of the Broadway adaptation of Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical, at the Ahmanson Theater in downtown Los Angeles. I hear they're transforming the gallery into a country barn jamboree, complete with bales of hay and chickens. Oh my, I think I may have to attend this show. My painting appears above, but all the sparkling, glittery, iridescent paint I used doesn't show up on the monitor. It's very sparkly, just like Dolly. Medium: acrylic, iridescent ink and glitter on paper. Size 11 x 14 framed.

Dial M for Madonna - Art Show in Hollywood

If you're in Los Angeles on May 23, be sure and make a beeline to the Dial M for Madonna show at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery located in Hollywood. They always host the most fun-filled art shows and who knows, maybe even Bobby Trendy will show up. Errr, don't let that last part deter you. Anyway, I'll have 2 pieces in the show along with over 40 other artists. The LA Times even gave the show a Best Bet rating.

This painting was originally printed in Cracked magazine to accompany an article about fashionable celebrity adoption. It has a little secret too. The image you see above is the print version. I had to make it perfect for the client...however, the original painting was purposefully created to include a crooked and asymmetrical arch. Underneath her perfect facade lies imperfect truths the public never sees, so I wanted her icon to reflect that.

I ripped this one out of my sketchbook, trimmed it, and placed it in a frame. Originally, this illustration was created as part of an Exquisite Corpse I did with Doodle Whore and Pretty on the Outside. While sketching it, I spilled wine on it which should increase its value. It was an expensive wine, you see.

The Details
"Dial M for Madonna," curated by James St James and Steven Corfe and opening with a gala reception on May 23, is a 40-artist-strong group show of all things Madge, from a conical bra made entirely of chocolate to a photograph of the Village Voice’s Michael Musto spoofing Madonna’s Sex book, “standing naked in a Jersey street with nothing but a wig and a cig to distract from my painfully tucked penis.” Opening night will also feature a video tribute to the late great 400lb Madonna impersonator, Queerdonna.

World of Wonder Storefront Gallery
6650 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
8pm to midnight
Free

Just Britney Art Show - September 28 * Hollywood

The Just Britney art show is opening on September 28th at the WOW Report's storefront gallery located in Hollywood. Curated by Steven Corfe and Thairin Smothers, the show will feature Britney Spears-inspired work from over 30 artists. I'll have two small paintings in the show (above), but they'll go unnoticed due to the presence of the famed "Leave Britney Alone!" YouTube sensation, Chris Crocker. Not only will he be attending the opening, he'll be contributing his art! That's right, if you get to the show as they open the doors, you just might get the chance to purchase this self-portrait photo of the lovely Mr. Crocker posing seductively on top of his Britney Spears memorabillia collection. Other works include a portrait of Britney done in chewed bubble gum(!) by artist Jason Kronenwald and the famous "Snake Charmer" painting by Jamie Boling. The two week show opens at the World of Wonder Art Gallery, 6650 Hollywood Blvd, on September 28 at 8:00pm and goes until midnight.

Gallery Show: Blonde Bombshell 2007

If Egon Schiele Had Painted Nicole Richie will be for sale at M Modern's fabulous Blonde Bombshell art show. Nicole's sexy bones will contrast nicely with all the paintings and photos of curvy blondes you'll find at this annual event. I can't say who, but there will be a very busty blonde celebrity guest in attendance. She lives in Malibu and wears ugg boots, that's all I can reveal. Blonde Bombshell opens January 27th from 7:00 - 10:00pm at the M Modern gallery in Palm Springs.

Chicago Gallery Show Announcement

Gallery of the Absurd will be showing a collection of original paintings and prints at the DVA Gallery in Chicago. "Alter Ego: Sordid Celebrity Gossip and Impossible Botanical Curiousities" showcases the gossip-inspired work of 14 along with the unusual botanical paintings of Aaron Norlan (14's studio mate). The show opens on August 25 and runs through mid-September. Some of 14's original paintings availabe for sale include "What If..", "If Lautrec Had Painted Keira Knightley", "The Disturbingly Cute Little Forest Mushroom", "Happy Monkeys Swinging in a Money Tree", "I Love Me", "If Schiele Had Painted Nicole Richie" and more. Contact the DVA Gallery for details. Below is an example from Aaron's collection of paintings.

Blonde Bombshell - M Modern Gallery

I am showing Courtney Love at the Blonde Bombshell show at the M Modern gallery in Palm Springs. If you're in the area, you don't want to miss this show. Mamie Van Doren is hosting it, how can you not attend?!?!  Other artists showing work include some of my favorites: Kipling West, Lisa Pettruci, Naoto Hatori, Poptarts, Glenn Barr and more. The opening reception is January 14, 7 - 10 pm. UPDATE: Courtney sold.  I wonder who bought it?