By Shag (SCB – Baby Tattoo Books)
ISBN: 978-0-9793307-3-5
A mystery-man of few words, Josh Agle, the artist currently known as “Shagâ€, has produced numerous collections of sleek and stylish paintings that are the very epitome of “retroâ€.
Considered a leading light of the American “Lowbrow†or “Pop Surrealism†art movement his mannered, maddeningly meticulous constructions of 1960s imagery and palettes are mind-warping and oddly comforting at the same time: stirringly reminiscent of the animated credits for TV shows like “Bewitched†and “I Dream of Jeannie†and films such as “The Pink Panther†and “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machinesâ€.
This latest memorable collection, full of doe-eyed, bouffant-ed beach cuties, slick, dark-suited men with horn-rim glasses and thin ties, whales and whalers, beasts, devils and Victoriana viewed through a Baby-boomer’s lens gathers works from his latest gallery tour and provides yet another peek into the mind of a true – if sardonic – cultural archeologist.
Accompanied by poetry and quotations this is an engrossing treat and, I’m sure the beginning of the art-poster and greetings card “next big thing.†Catch the wave before it catches you…
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