My Feelings Like You
Inspired by escapism, packaging, banality and Pop-art, the work of American artist Gary Taxali is playful, pretty and poignant – and next month sees the opening of his debut UK solo show.
The exhibition, entitled My Feelings Like You, will showcase the trademark modern yet nostalgic works that takepop-art sensibilities and wrench them through very modern iconography.
‘Turning a mirror onto the viewer is amazing for some artists, but I’m more interested in a form of escapism that makes people feel, “there’s possibilities”’, says Taxali.
‘Despite the horrible depression and turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s there was a general feeling of hope and optimism – even though man had never been to the moon – and both are reflected in the imagery of the time. Even corporations represented themselves with cartoon characters, and weren’t viewed as quite so terrible either.’
Working in oils, silk-screen printing and ink, among other media, Taxali’s works have an innocent, collage-like aesthetic; mixing high-art with popular culture and working in elements such as existing book pages, oil paintings and everyday ephemera.
Taxali says, ‘I just want people to appreciate the banal: things that are accidentally beautiful, like packaging.’
Gary Taxali: My Feelings Like You runs from 4 May – 2 June at The Outsiders London, 8 Greek Street W1D
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