Shows – TODD SCHORR

RATTLEBRAIN MELODRAMA NOVEMBER 5, 2022–JANUARY 7, 2023

chelli — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 18:21:15 +0000

Schorr’s cast-of-thousands scenarios are heavily symbolic, rendered with a high 19th century paragon of stylistic considerations and compositional ambition for complex storytelling function as a means of communicating big ideas. From both religious and mythological cautionary tales and racy serial comics, Schorr borrows allegorical narrative strategies and a taste for social critique that is both telegraphed and ameliorated by the elegance of the awe-inspiring paintings he creates.

ATOMIC COCKTAIL AT CROCKER ART MUSEUM 2020

chelli — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 07:00:24 +0000

ATOMIC COCKTAIL EXHIBITION SEPTEMBER 21-DECEMBER 30, 2018

chelli — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 03:46:42 +0000

Artist Todd Schorr has earned broad recognition as a master painter. The style and influences of his complex narrative painting have been attributed from a multitude of sources from Northern Renaissance to 18th and 19th century Romantic painters. Schorr combines a complex contemporary imagery with an illustrative style. His intricate narratives are both relevant and relatable. Todd Schorr: Atomic Cocktail takes a closer look at the connection between the synthesis of visual culture from the artist’s childhood and his current pictorial language. Popular culture clearly had a significant impact on young Schorr. From the beginning of the nuclear age, signs, logos, cartoon characters, monsters and mascots have all worked to create a massive societal spectacle. Madison Avenue and both television and cinema have had a profound effect on Western culture’s visual language. Schorr paintings feel like both an exorcism and celebration of that culture.

Like other masters in the arc of art history, Schorr culls the signs of our culture and places them in a new context: Tony the Tiger, Bob’s Big Boy, and Smokey the Bear become joined as part of a firebreathing Hydra. Aliens, as movie Western Indians, ride across a desert plain. A primitive hominid gathers Betty Boop, Batman, and Howdy Doody in a sack like an ancient Santa Claus. Often, amid these spectacles, idles a small boy, acting as avatar for the artist.

This exhibition will highlight a mix of Schorr’s iconic paintings, new works that have never been shown to the public as well as sculpture, and preparatory studies. It will explore, in depth, Schorr’s critical dialogue of Western visual culture as it impacted his own visual lexicon and ours.

Biography:

Todd Schorr was born in New Jersey in 1954. He attended the Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts) and graduated with a degree in illustration. He began work as an illustrator while in college. Upon graduation in 1976, Schorr moved to New York City to begin his professional illustration career. His oeuvre included album covers, movie posters and magazine covers. AC/DC, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and Time magazine were some of his clients.

In the mid-eighties, Schorr began his break from illustration so he could focus on his fine art painting. He took part in the 1986 landmark exhibition American Pop Culture Images Today at the Laforet Museum in Tokyo, Japan. This set him on a path that allowed him to end his illustration career. In 1992, Schorr had first solo show at the Tamara Bane Gallery in Los Angeles. Schorr and his wife relocated to Los Angeles in 1999. Today, Schorr is represented by KP Projects Gallery, has exhibitions and is in collections all over the world

Todd Schorr: Atomic Cocktail is organized by the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art and curated by Heather Hakimzadeh and Alison Byrne. The exhibition will open at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art on Friday, September 21, 2018 and will travel to two-to-three additional museums thereafter.

ATOMIC COCKTAIL EXHIBITION OPENING NIGHT

chelli — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 03:15:24 +0000

A fabulous night of pop culture icons, alternative habitats, and more as MOCA celebrated its new exhibitions. It was an opportunity to meet artists Todd Schorr, Julie Heffernan, and Andy Harris. DJ Lord Thomas played vintage vinyl and refreshments were provided by Auntie’s Pop-Up Tiki Bar.

2012 NEVERLASTING MIRACLESSOLO EXHIBITION

chelli — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:01:23 +0000

Merry Karnowsky Gallery, in Los Angeles, California hosted the Neverlasting Miracles, a solo art exhibition by pop surrealist Todd Schorr. The show opened March 17, 2012 and ran through April 14, 2012.

LES ENFANTS TERRIBLESEXHIBITION

chelli — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:01:30 +0000

Les Centres d’Art Spacejunk sont régis par l’Association Image et Outils (A.I.O)
Lowbrow & Pop Surrealism Exhibition
Exhibition ran from September 15–December 31, 2011

Participating Artists:
Todd Schorr (USA) – Caia Koopman (USA) – Odö (France) – RegMombassa (Australie) – Jeff Soto (USA) – Nicolas Thomas (France) –Naoto Hattori (Japon) – Victor Castillo (Chili) Ray Caesar (UK – Can) –Robert Crumb (USA) – Robert Williams (USA) – Joe Sorren & Jud Bergeron(USA)

OTIS : DESIGNED FOR EXTINCTIONSOLO EXHIBITION

chelli — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:01:13 +0000

Todd Schorr’s Universe — A New Retrospective of the Pop Surrealist at Otis

Designed for Extinction ia a solo exhibition featuring the paintings of Los Angeles-based artist Todd Schorr, a leading figure in the world of Pop Surrealism and the “lowbrow”. Schorr is undeniably inspired by Renaissance masters such as Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Bruegel, and Salvador Dali, as well as the early animated cartoons of Walt Disney and Max Fleischer, underground comics best exemplified by Zap, and classic films from the 1930’s such as King Kong and Frankenstein. His highly polished, fantastic paintings are intricate narratives about evolution and the plight of man.

Show opens on June 26, 2010 and runs through September 11, 2010

SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ARTSURREAL NIGHT WITH TODD SCHORR

chelli — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:06:03 +0000

Meet artist Todd Schorr as he invades the San Jose Museum of Art with a major retrospective exhibition! Join us Thursday, July 16, 2009.