Ron English keeps on theme with providing juxtaposing plays off Pop Culture to demonstrate his own messages. His latest work comes in the form of this Barack Obama and The Incredible Hulk Sculpture. There’s no news on its release of availability to collectors at this point, though we’re sure it will be in big demand.

Source: AM

Ron English ‘Barack Obama x Hulk’ Sculpture is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Ron English has put together another compelling body of works this time for an exhibition that opened on the weekend at Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles. Entitled Seasons in Supurbia, the works are defined by English’s surreal approach with some beautiful renderings of his cast of “popaganda” characters including toy soldiers, camo-deer, hulk-boy, and more so if you are in the area make sure you stop by.

Thanks to Arrested Motion for the info.

Ron English “Seasons in Supurbia” Exhibition is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

While in town for the opening of his “English 101″ exhibit at Post No Bills Ron English took to the familiar De La Barracuda mural wall right off of melrose to bestow a bit of artwork. If your in the areas stop by to check out the wall and make sure you get a chance to view his exhibit at Post No Bills.

Ron English x De La Barracuda Mural is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

The talented Ron English has two exhibitions opening in quick succession at both Post No Bills and Corey Helford Gallery. Opening next week is English 101, while Seasons in Supurbia makes for more welcoming news as the New York based artist compiles another fun and enjoyable body of works.

Ron English “Seasons in Supurbia” & “English 101″ Exhibitions is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Ron English may be one of the most prolific artist of today. His talents aren’t limited to just one medium as he continually pushes his brand of subversive messages against consumerism and pop culture upon the masses through paintings, sculptures, and any other canvas the man can get his hands upon. To be able to see into the workplace of a true living legend is an honor as he allowed the folks at It Drew Itself to do just that. We get a glimpse into his basement studio as well as his highly organized yet chaotic living space.

Ron English Studio Visit is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Ron English has collaborated with Absolute Vodka on a limited edition bottle featuring his “Mostrum” graphic, the design will be available in Italian retailers soon.

Ron English x Absolut Vodka Limited Edition Bottle is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Images: AM

Ron English for Wynwood Walls | Art Basel Miami 2010 is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Here is a look at the highly distinguished Ron English’s latest collection of works that are featured at Opera Gallery. Entitled “Status Factory”, the exhibition provides viewers with another notable look into “Popaganda” with ironic humour the core of the artists work. Combining large works on canvas with interactive sculpture this makes for a must see before the show closes on October 29.

Many more images over at Arrested Motion.

Ron English “Status Factory” Exhibition is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Ron English presents his ‘Everyone’s A Critic’ short film featuring soft toys and a round of ammunition. The result is both epic and funny although we both know that there is more beyond the obvious when it comes to Ron English’s work. Either way it is a great watch..

Ron English ‘Everyone’s A Critic’ Video is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

The new album from Slash released this week featuring the ironic style of work from artist Ron English. Featuring a number of a paisley swirls with a number of Ron English angels as the backdrop for a cross bone motif design completing a really compelling design.

Slash Album Cover by Ron English is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Ron English’s “How to Explain the Art World to a Dead Hare” Video is the popoganda artists own version of Joseph Beuys’ iconic 965 performance art piece, “How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare”. This short film was filmed during the filming of Ron English’s new film “The Emperor’s New Art.” We’re looking forward to the full length film.

Joseph Beuys in 1965.

Thanks to HS for the heads up on the video.

Ron English “How to Explain the Art World to a Dead Hare” Video is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Ron English has been busy Bovine Bombing in South Texas. The American artist keeps his “Popaganda” philosophy alive and well always sending a message this time, utilising a unique medium. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Ron English Bovine Bombing in South Texas is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Scheduled to air this weekend on the 10th of January will be the Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – “In 3-D! On Ice!”. In the episode will be a Ron English collaboration featuring a variation on Ron English’s Homer/Jackson Pollock motif… in 10 seconds. It’ll be interesting to see what the results will be when surrealist paintings meets the more commonly super flat style of animated cartoons, in this case The Simpsons.

Take a look at a time lapse video of Ron English doing the piece below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Info: Ron English

Ron English x The Simpsons Episode is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

One of our favourite artists Ron English continues his collaboration with Made By Monsters, sticking with the Peanuts theme to create the “Lucy Exposed” toy.  Previously working together on the “Grin” evil Charlie Brown toy this time we see an extreme yet hilarious version of the cartoon character.

This is a great example of Ron’s work, making you laugh and feel uncomfortable but forcing you to think at the same time.  He is one the few street artists that manages to truly mix a completely juvenile sense of humour and aesthetic with a more complex cultural or political message.  Its a difficult balance and one which even some of the biggest names on the scene struggle to do well, often making their social commentary so obvious it dimishes its effect, reducing it to a meanings slogan, or to quote Crass mere ’school boy sedition”.

The toy comes in at 8 inches and will release on December 21st, 2009 with a limited run of 300 pieces only. For pre-orders, contact info@garageworksindustries.com.

Thanks to HB for the heads up.

Ron English x Made By Monsters Pop Art Series Lucy Exposed Toy is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

On Dec. 12 Medicine Agency played host to the release of Ron English and TOTT Globals release of the “Mandala Grin” jigsaw puzzle. I was fortunate enough for them to invite me out for the release and signing. TOTT Global makes art more interactive by producing toys and novelties solidifying a place for street art and the culture to reach a wider audience. Mr. English is one of my favorite artists of our generation and I was lucky enough to ask him a few questions in which he addresses the topic of our culture and its future. The live painting video and photos are by Sean Desmond. Thank you to Rama, John, Sean, and Mr. English for making this possible. The puzzle is now available at TOTT Global’s Online Shop for $39

Slamxhype: Do you think every generation has that one pop artist that is most influential, or would you consider yourself a pop artist?

Ron English: Well our generation has two..

Slamxhype: Meaning the obvious? Warhol?

Ron English: No that was generation before, see now that the population has doubled there has to be twice as many.

Slamxhype: So what is it about pop culture that intrigues you?

Ron English: I think its the way that the impressionists kind of all went to the same locations, and painted the same scenes. If everyone is looking at the same thing then its also something everyone can go see. Then you can really get an idea of what the individual interpretation of that artist is. It is a way to see your style and what you bring to it, cause you know what you’re painting. Everyone knows pop culture so they understand what part is English.

Slamxhype: You reinterpreted Picasso’s Guernica, why did you choose that particular piece?

Ron English: I like that piece because it has a certain meaning already to people, almost like a universal meaning. Also, I was thinking about when we were kids we used to sing “Ring Around the Rosie,” but it had long since lost whatever meaning it had about the Black Plague. That is how humans get through tragedy, it can’t be that tragedy anymore. Picasso’s “Guernica” was a step away from that tragedy. It wasn’t this brutal depiction about what happened so he had already taken a step away from it. You have to bring things down to the level of a nursery rhyme otherwise our brains would explode with all the stuff that happens in the world. And trying to personalize or internalize it all.

Slamxhype: Is that what you try to do, make everything more personal to people?

Ron English: Well its a step away from the actual events, and making it a part of pop culture. It is also identifying other things that are problematic too. Besides dropping bombs on civilians to see if they work or not. There is also dropping bombs on people culturally.

Slamxhype: Do you still do billboards?

Ron English: I actually haven’t for a whole year, besides the Obama thing. I’ll start again within the next couple weeks. I literally went somewhere almost every single week this year, so it was a hard year. But, next year we have Mexico lined up so were gonna go down there and do billboards. I don’t know what happened this year it just got away from me.

Slamxhype: Now that you mention Obama, how do you feel about Shephard Fairey being persecuted?

Ron English: That is kind of a loaded question, what do you mean by being persecuted?

Slamxhype: Well he used the Obama image he might go to jail..

Ron English: Oh he won’t go to jail for that, that’s a financial crime. He will probably have to pay the original fee whatever that was, $15? Then the lawyer fees on the other side, if he loses. AP isn’t known for losing, but he was completely in the right. He made a mistake in trying to fake some evidence. There was no reason to do that. He was the first big artist of the generation that actually makes art using images from peopel all over the globe. They make this art at 2 o’clock in the morning in front of their computer. So it doesn’t seem like you’re stealing everything because you never leave your apartment, how can a thief steal something without ever leaving their apartment? Its this new age and hes a pioneer in this new age. Its important that he fights it and not cave in and just get it off his back. It sets a precedent, He changed the image more then 30% which is the law. But if he pays them off or settles, it is going to weaken the law, for everybody. We don’t have access to people like Obama or Ghandi or different public figures. If we want to make social commentary were going to have to use someone else’s photos to see what they look like. More freedom of speech more liberalism, more use of images not less.

Slamxhype: How do you feel about street art just recently becoming more accepted in the art world?

Ron English: That was an interesting turn of events. The art world is very fickle and they go through a lot of fads. Street art is interesting juxtaposed against other art movements that have came and went. Because it also has legs outside of the official art world. It has other venues to sell itself like on skateboards etc. It is also something anyone can do. I think what has happened with street art is its become more like soccer. It is the new sport, people I know like to watch baseball or football. They’re not football or baseball players but they did play in High school. Because they learned it at a young age, once they realized they weren’t going to be a professional player.. They continue to appreciate the sport and support it. I think now were in this generation that came after the original generation that actually went out and did graffiti or just practiced in their notebooks. But they had a relationship to graffiti when they were very young. At some point they probably realized they weren’t going to be a professional artist. Or maybe they can be a graphic designer. They still understand and appreciate the artform by buying the products or actual paintings, in one way or another they’re going to support the culture, because they understand it. Its sort of a weird culture because like baseball, it doesn’t make a lot of sense if you don’t understand the rules. Neither does street art, but everyone understands the rules. Street art is here to stay now.

Slamxhype: Especially with companies like TOTT Global it is really solidifying a place for it now

Ron English: Right. Its a lot more democratic, if I think I have a lot of talent you know.. The old art system there was really no way into it. You could take your slides into a gallery and they’d throw it into the trash. It was a very elite group of people selling art to another group of elite people. graffiti and street art. it had to quit being just graffiti. It is too narrowely defined of a thing. There is a lot of rules with it that had to be broken.

Slamxhype: Would you consider yourself a graffiti artist when you do billboards?

Ron English: No no, I did traditional graffiti when I was a kid because I was from that generation. I very quickly thought I’m not in New York and I can’t paint subway trains and that was the place you really had to make your mark as a graffiti artist. So the billboard in Texas was the equivalent to the Subway cars in New York. Everybody saw the subway cars everybody saw the billboards. So, I started taking over billboards. And also I needed to write my name, I still felt like they had ownership of that, that was their thing. I don’t know if that makes any sense but I wanted my own thing. Keith Harring very much thought I miss this, I am not one of these guys. I’m kind of an interloper so I can’t imitate their art and become a part of them. I think he felt like he had to find his own turf he didn’t put it on subway cars he put it on subway posters. He was the first authentic street artist, the new way of thinking of it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ron English x TOTT Global is a post from: SLAMXHYPE