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Lowbrow (art movement)

January 01, 1970

Lowbrow, or lowbrow art, is an underground visual art movement that arose in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1960s.[1] It is a populist art movement with its cultural roots in underground comix, punk music, tiki culture, graffiti, and hot-rod cultures of the street.[2] It is also often known by the name pop surrealism.[3] Lowbrow art often has a sense of humor – sometimes the humor is gleeful, impish, or a sarcastic comment.[4]

Lowbrow
"Tiki Cat", lowbrow art by Brad Parker
Years active1979–present
LocationUnited States
Major figuresWilliams, Scharf, Ryden, Freeny
InfluencesPop art, surrealism
InfluencedDesigner toys

Most lowbrow artworks are paintings, but there are also toys, digital art, and sculpture.

History edit

Some of the first artists to create what came to be known as lowbrow art were underground cartoonists like Robert Williams and Gary Panter. Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, Dan "Plasma" Rauch and Camilla Elke were amongst the first to pioneer Lowbrow as a street art, zine, fashion, graffiti, and counter culture movement. The purpose of the lowbrow movement was to take an unorthodox approach to art and to completely defy its "rules". This resulted in pushback from significant individuals and organizations in the art industry.[5] Early shows were in alternative galleries in New York and Los Angeles such as Psychedelic Solutions Gallery in Greenwich Village, New York City which was run by Jacaeber Kastor,[6] La Luz de Jesus run by Billy Shire[7] and 01 gallery in Hollywood, run by John Pochna.[6] The movement steadily grew from its beginning, with hundreds of artists adopting this style. As the number of artists grew, so did the number of galleries showing lowbrow. In 1992 Greg Escalante helped orchestrate the first formal gallery exhibition to take lowbrow art seriously; painter Anthony Ausgang's solo show "Looney Virtues” at the Julie Rico Gallery in Santa Monica. The Bess Cutler Gallery also went on to show important artists and helped expand the kind of art that was classified as lowbrow. The lowbrow magazine Juxtapoz, launched in 1994 by Robert Williams, Greg Escalante, and Eric Swenson, has been a mainstay of writing on lowbrow art and has helped shape and expand the movement.[8]

Etymology edit

In an article in the February 2006 issue of his magazine Juxtapoz, Robert Williams took credit for originating the term "lowbrow art". He stated that in 1979 Gilbert Shelton of the publisher Rip Off Press decided to produce a book featuring Willams' paintings. Williams said he decided to give the book the self-deprecating title The Lowbrow Art of Robt. Williams, since no authorized art institution would recognize his type of art. "Lowbrow" was thus used by Williams in opposition to "highbrow". He said the name then stuck, even though he feels it is inappropriate. Williams refers to the movement as "cartoon-tainted abstract surrealism."[9] Lately, Williams has begun referring to his own work as "Conceptual Realism".[10]

Books edit

There are several books which offer overview histories of lowbrow, including the following:

  • Tropeano, Mauro (2020). Lowbrow Art / Pop Surrealism (Le Origini / La Storia). Blurb. ISBN 9781715775650.
  • Shire, Billy (2011). La Luz de Jesus 25. Last Gasp. ISBN 9780867197648. A collection of La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Hollywood, CA that has carried Lowbrow art for 25 years.
  • Williams, Robert; McCormick, Carlo; Reid, Larry (2004). Anderson, Kirsten (ed.). Pop Surrealism: The Rise of Underground Art. Last Gasp. ISBN 0867196181.
  • Jordan, Matt Dukes (2005). Weirdo Deluxe: The Wild World of Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow Art. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780811842419.
  • Rose, Aaron; Strike, Christian; Baker, Alex (2004). Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture. Iconoclast. ISBN 1891024744.
  • Cullison, Sherri (2002). Vicious, Delicious, and Ambitious: 20th Century Women Artists. Schiffer Pub. Limited. ISBN 0764316346.

Magazines edit

See also edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Magliozzi (2009).
  2. ^ Martinez (2015).
  3. ^ Kordic (2016).
  4. ^ Esaak (c. 2005).
  5. ^ "Lowbrow Art, Subcultural Movement or Legitimate Art Generation?". DailyArt Magazine. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  6. ^ a b Douglas (2012).
  7. ^ LaLuzDeJesus.com (n.d.).
  8. ^ Givens (2013), p. 1.
  9. ^ Williams (c. 2007).
  10. ^ Williams (2010).
  11. ^ Lindall (2006), p. 168.

Sources edit

  • Douglas, Beth (March 28, 2012). "An Introduction to Lowbrow Art and Pop Surrealism". Redbubble.com. Melbourne, Australia. from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  • Esaak, Shelley (c. 2005). "The Lowbrow Movement: Art History 101 Basics". ThoughtCo.com. New York, NY. from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  • Givens, Joseph R. (May 2013). Lowbrow art : the unlikely defender of art history's tradition (MA). Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. etd-04132013-151026. from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  • Kordic, Angie (July 4, 2016). "What is the Lowbrow Art Movement? When Surrealism Took Over Pop". Widewalls.ch. London, England. from the original on July 9, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  • "La Luz De Jesus: About". LaLuzDeJesus.com. Los Angeles, CA. n.d. from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  • Lindall, Terrance (March 2006). "What's New In the Surreal World - Surrealism isn't Dead, It's Dreaming". Art & Antiques. Wilmington, NC: Art & Antiques Worldwide Media, LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  • Martinez, Ricardo (December 5, 2015). "From Pop Surrealism to Lowbrow - Something Got Lost in Translation". Widewalls.ch. London, England. from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  • Magliozzi, Ron. "Tim Burton: Exercising the Imagination." Tim Burton. The Museum of Modern Art, 2009, pp. 9-15.
  • Williams, Roberts (February 7, 2010). "Molly Barnes Art News" (Interview). Interviewed by Molly Barnes. Los Angeles, CA: KCSN.
  • Williams, Robert (c. 2007). . beinArt.org. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
lowbrow, movement, lowbrow, lowbrow, underground, visual, movement, that, arose, angeles, california, area, late, 1960s, populist, movement, with, cultural, roots, underground, comix, punk, music, tiki, culture, graffiti, cultures, street, also, often, known, . Lowbrow or lowbrow art is an underground visual art movement that arose in the Los Angeles California area in the late 1960s 1 It is a populist art movement with its cultural roots in underground comix punk music tiki culture graffiti and hot rod cultures of the street 2 It is also often known by the name pop surrealism 3 Lowbrow art often has a sense of humor sometimes the humor is gleeful impish or a sarcastic comment 4 Lowbrow Tiki Cat lowbrow art by Brad ParkerYears active1979 presentLocationUnited StatesMajor figuresWilliams Scharf Ryden FreenyInfluencesPop art surrealismInfluencedDesigner toys Most lowbrow artworks are paintings but there are also toys digital art and sculpture Contents 1 History 2 Etymology 3 Books 4 Magazines 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 Sources 7 External linksHistory editSome of the first artists to create what came to be known as lowbrow art were underground cartoonists like Robert Williams and Gary Panter Barry McGee Margaret Kilgallen Dan Plasma Rauch and Camilla Elke were amongst the first to pioneer Lowbrow as a street art zine fashion graffiti and counter culture movement The purpose of the lowbrow movement was to take an unorthodox approach to art and to completely defy its rules This resulted in pushback from significant individuals and organizations in the art industry 5 Early shows were in alternative galleries in New York and Los Angeles such as Psychedelic Solutions Gallery in Greenwich Village New York City which was run by Jacaeber Kastor 6 La Luz de Jesus run by Billy Shire 7 and 01 gallery in Hollywood run by John Pochna 6 The movement steadily grew from its beginning with hundreds of artists adopting this style As the number of artists grew so did the number of galleries showing lowbrow In 1992 Greg Escalante helped orchestrate the first formal gallery exhibition to take lowbrow art seriously painter Anthony Ausgang s solo show Looney Virtues at the Julie Rico Gallery in Santa Monica The Bess Cutler Gallery also went on to show important artists and helped expand the kind of art that was classified as lowbrow The lowbrow magazine Juxtapoz launched in 1994 by Robert Williams Greg Escalante and Eric Swenson has been a mainstay of writing on lowbrow art and has helped shape and expand the movement 8 Etymology editIn an article in the February 2006 issue of his magazine Juxtapoz Robert Williams took credit for originating the term lowbrow art He stated that in 1979 Gilbert Shelton of the publisher Rip Off Press decided to produce a book featuring Willams paintings Williams said he decided to give the book the self deprecating title The Lowbrow Art of Robt Williams since no authorized art institution would recognize his type of art Lowbrow was thus used by Williams in opposition to highbrow He said the name then stuck even though he feels it is inappropriate Williams refers to the movement as cartoon tainted abstract surrealism 9 Lately Williams has begun referring to his own work as Conceptual Realism 10 Anthony Ausgang Mark Ryden Robert Williams Corrie Erickson Camille Rose Garcia Shag Todd Schorr Greg Simkins Amy Sol Kenny Scharf Steven Cerio Ray Caesar Esao Andrews Marion Peck Tara McPherson Sunny Buick Peca Audrey Kawasaki Jason Limon Victor Castillo Miss Van Joe Vaux Brandi Milne Dennis Larkins Lola Gil Martin Wittfooth Hannah Yata Gregory Jacobsen Naoto Hattori Dan Quintana Gregory Hergert Renee French Travis Lampe Tim Biskup Mark Rogers Gary Baseman Mark Bryan Ciou Van ArnoBooks editThere are several books which offer overview histories of lowbrow including the following Tropeano Mauro 2020 Lowbrow Art Pop Surrealism Le Origini La Storia Blurb ISBN 9781715775650 Shire Billy 2011 La Luz de Jesus 25 Last Gasp ISBN 9780867197648 A collection of La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Hollywood CA that has carried Lowbrow art for 25 years Williams Robert McCormick Carlo Reid Larry 2004 Anderson Kirsten ed Pop Surrealism The Rise of Underground Art Last Gasp ISBN 0867196181 Jordan Matt Dukes 2005 Weirdo Deluxe The Wild World of Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow Art Chronicle Books ISBN 9780811842419 Rose Aaron Strike Christian Baker Alex 2004 Beautiful Losers Contemporary Art and Street Culture Iconoclast ISBN 1891024744 Cullison Sherri 2002 Vicious Delicious and Ambitious 20th Century Women Artists Schiffer Pub Limited ISBN 0764316346 Magazines editJuxtapoz PORK magazine Beautiful Decay Magazine Tokion is a magazine with both Japanese and US editions Hi Fructose Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Hey MagazineSee also editChicago Imagists Decadent movement Dieselpunk Kitsch Kustom Kulture Massurrealism 11 Middlebrow Naive art Outsider art Stuckism Superflat Tiki culture Underground artReferences editCitations edit Magliozzi 2009 Martinez 2015 Kordic 2016 Esaak c 2005 Lowbrow Art Subcultural Movement or Legitimate Art Generation DailyArt Magazine 2020 04 21 Retrieved 2022 02 04 a b Douglas 2012 LaLuzDeJesus com n d Givens 2013 p 1 Williams c 2007 Williams 2010 Lindall 2006 p 168 Sources edit Douglas Beth March 28 2012 An Introduction to Lowbrow Art and Pop Surrealism Redbubble com Melbourne Australia Archived from the original on December 16 2018 Retrieved December 16 2018 Esaak Shelley c 2005 The Lowbrow Movement Art History 101 Basics ThoughtCo com New York NY Archived from the original on April 14 2018 Retrieved December 15 2018 Givens Joseph R May 2013 Lowbrow art the unlikely defender of art history s tradition MA Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College etd 04132013 151026 Archived from the original on December 16 2018 Retrieved December 16 2018 Kordic Angie July 4 2016 What is the Lowbrow Art Movement When Surrealism Took Over Pop Widewalls ch London England Archived from the original on July 9 2016 Retrieved December 16 2018 La Luz De Jesus About LaLuzDeJesus com Los Angeles CA n d Archived from the original on November 30 2018 Retrieved December 15 2018 Lindall Terrance March 2006 What s New In the Surreal World Surrealism isn t Dead It s Dreaming Art amp Antiques Wilmington NC Art amp Antiques Worldwide Media LLC Retrieved December 16 2018 Martinez Ricardo December 5 2015 From Pop Surrealism to Lowbrow Something Got Lost in Translation Widewalls ch London England Archived from the original on December 11 2015 Retrieved December 16 2018 Magliozzi Ron Tim Burton Exercising the Imagination Tim Burton The Museum of Modern Art 2009 pp 9 15 Williams Roberts February 7 2010 Molly Barnes Art News Interview Interviewed by Molly Barnes Los Angeles CA KCSN Williams Robert c 2007 Robert Williams Essay beinArt Surreal Art Collective beinArt org Archived from the original on May 9 2008 External links editInterview with Kirsten Anderson editor of Pop Surrealism 2005 L A Weekly article on lowbrow Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lowbrow art movement amp oldid 1211193864, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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