Week 6: Entry 2: Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was an American painter that led the visual art movement which created pop art, he is widely known for his contributions in the art industry and his iconic paintings of the world’s influential people such as Che Guevara, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and many more.

Warhol was born on August 6, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents were working-class immigrants from Slovakia. They left the country to provide a better life for their children after Warhol’s grandparents passed away. During Warhol’s childhood he was diagnosed with chorea, which is an abnormal involuntary moment disorder, this resulted in him spending most of his childhood at home and in his room. He then became an outcast among his classmates so the solution to his happiness was to draw, listen to the radio and collect pictures of celebrities.

Warhol studied at the School of Fine Arts at Carnegie Institute of Technology then in 1949 he moved to New York to begin his career in illustration and advertising. During his stay he became very popular for his ink drawings for a shoe advertisement, which gave him great motivation to continue on with his love of art. It was during the 1960s when Warhol started the highly recognizable paintings of the Campbell’s Soup Cans, Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali, and many more.

On February 22, 1987 Warhol died in his sleep after recovering from a gallbladder operation, it has been noted that he delayed having his problems checked and was afraid to enter hospitals and see doctors. More than 20 years after his death he is still an iconic figure in the art industry and in 1994 The Andy Warhol Museum was built in Pittsburgh.

Week 6: Entry 1: Todd Goldman

Todd Goldman is an American painter/entrepreneur and founder of David and Goliath clothing and merchandising company. Goldman started painting during his high school years and thought nothing of it; he just pursued it as a hobby not a career. During his senior year he decided to attend the University of Florida and major in accounting. After graduating he worked as a CPA for six years; realizing that he had built great hatred for the job, he quit.

After quitting his job everything took a dramatic turn and with all the frustration built up he decided to paint again, just as he did when he was younger, in addition to the paintings he inserted quotes as jokes at the world. He then worked at various jobs and saved up enough artwork to start the David and Goliath clothing line. All that hard work paid off and in 2004 Wall Street Journal stated that the sales volume of David and Goliath was $90 million.

Goldman’s work is great to view at anytime, it reminds me of a comic strip and every painting is laughable but rational. Goldman was accused of plagiarism in 2007 over his “Please Make Everyone Die” painting and the debate still continues. But overall Goldman’s creativity is greatly appreciated, his artwork is exhibited and collected all over the world. You may be able to view them first hand due he has numerous art shows every year.

Week 4: Entry 3: KAWS

Brian Donnelly also known as KAWS is a New York based artist that designs sculptures, toys, and clothing. He initiated his career as a graffiti artist in New Jersey then later moved to New York in 1990. While in New York he began to subvert images on billboards, bus shelters, and phone booth advertisements, abnormally the street art became very popular.

In the 90s he designed and produced limited edition vinyl toys and it became very successful, as the success grew the branch also grew and then clothing became the next addition. KAWS’s mind went into sculptures and painting and the images became universal.

Just yesterday KAWS showcased his first solo museum exhibition in Connecticut at the Aldrich Museum. It included his recent paintings, sculptures, and drawings as well as his iconic street art, clothing and graphic designs. KAWS is the only artist in my eyes that can do no wrong. His pieces bring character and humor and its always refreshing to view the progression of people you idolize.

KAWS @ The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum 6/27/10 Ridgefield, CT from OsirisOrion on Vimeo.

Week 4: Entry 1: Chuck Close

Chuck Close is an American painter from Monroe, Washington. He started taking art lessons as a teen at the age of 14, at the time he was inspired by Jackson Pollock’s abstract paintings and would attempt to mimic the artist. Close later studied at the University of Washington School of Arts and also at Yale University School of Art and Architecture.

At the beginning of his career he painted large black and white portraits but what made them stand out were the detailing in all his pieces. Close made an effort to precisely insert all the flaws of a human face such as wrinkles, bloodshot eyes, and enlarged pores. He later began working with colors and painting portraits of the elite in the art industry. He developed a very unique technique for his “Fingerprint Series,” which involved him using his fingerprints to create an image. From afar the image is extremely clear but once you travel closer it’s just a cluster of finger prints.

In 1988, moments after delivering a speech at an art ceremony, he was rushed to hospital after he was experiencing severe chest pains. Moments later he suffered seizures which left him paralyzed from the neck down. They soon realized a blood clot in his spinal cord was the cause of his suffering. Months later after intense rehab treatments he regained slight movements in his arms and his legs. The moment he calls “the event” has not hindered his creative ability. He now has a new perspective in his artwork and it’s always amazing to see what he creates next.

Week 3: Entry 3: Kiki Smith

Kiki Smith was born in Nuremberg, Germany in 1954. She is the daughter of the American sculptor Tony Smith, so she has been introduced to art since she was born. As a young girl she helped her father make cardboard models for his geometric sculptures. This eventually began her career as an artist.

Smith is well known for her erratic artwork. She began sculpting and painter in the 70s but many are more familiar with her sculptures. By the 80s her work was displayed in museums especially the Museum of Modern Art, as of now they have collected more than fifth of her projects.

Smiths work is not my favorite to look at but her confidence is what I admire. Her pieces are so strange and out of the ordinary but once they are described than its easier to comprehend. As of sculptures she is wonderful but as a painter I’m still on the fence with that one. Overall she is a very interesting artist.

Week 1:Entry 3: George Condo

Years ago before I was really interested in outlandish art, I came upon a portrait of the Queen with a carrot projected threw her head and a natural reaction is to think that the piece was very odd. So I began to research the piece and it was ironically called “Portrait of a Queen.” While researching I came upon many other extreme pieces and finally discovered the creator of them all. It was an artist by the name of George Condo.

George Condo was born in Concord, New Hampshire but currently resides in New York. He is known for his bizarre twist on portraits because they always consist of wild caricatures. “His subjects are classically posed, dramatically lit, and surrounded by conflated fragments from the history of painting.” His pieces are very eye opening because the objects in his paintings originate from his imagination. They usually consist of “glass bottles, draper… and vague empty settings to better project the subject of the picture.”

Condo has been displaying his artwork for many years and each year it year it becomes more striking. It’s always a pleasure to view art that doesn’t conform to the typical clean cut genre of portraits. The bizarre pieces he delivers are images in his own world and by painting them he gives his audience a view of what his world consist of. They may not always be comprehensive but they will always attract your attention.