Ron English, a name that reverberates throughout the contemporary art world, is a true maverick and a trailblazer in the realm of Pop Surrealism. Contemporary American artist Ron English merges brand imagery, pop culture icons, cartoon characters and art historical references in a uniquely irreverent and colourful style which he has coined ‘Popaganda’.
Merging references to art history with cartoon characters and images from pop culture and big-brand advertising, he has coined the term ‘Popaganda’ to describe his style. Painted with meticulous brushstrokes, his vivid parodies carry undercurrents of meaning. “Still exploring” and “trying new things” through his practice, art for English remains “a big adventure.”
Ron English began his career by studying Fine Art and Photography at the University of North Texas in Denton, before receiving an MFA from the University of Texas in Austin. During this early period, he took a particular interest in counter-cultural movements such as Surrealism and Dada, historical photographs, and the visual painted illusions of trompe l’oeil.
Beyond art school, in the late 1970s he “started doing a lot of stuff on the streets”. Influenced by photography, he traced the shadows of his friends onto walls, using car headlights to cast silhouettes, which have since been adopted by the likes of Banksy. Leaving behind huge murals in numerous towns across the U.S., he earned himself the title, “the godfather of street art”.
During his 20s, English also hijacked billboards to create illusions on enormous scale. Blending photography with text, he radically altered big brands’ original messaging to play a “kind of game” on his viewers’ eyes. He was one of the first artists to employ this form of ‘culture jamming’ to critique consumerist society and the status quo with his own subversive statements.
While doing so, English experienced liberation in engaging the public with art and free speech: “we would have way more audience than any gallery or museum, because we had freeways”. In 1985 English moved to New York, where he became an integral figure in the East Village street art scene, painting directly on walls alongside the likes of Kenny Scharf, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, who he recalls “was a fan and had been following what I was doing already”. English also counts Haring as one of his own influences, as he developed a personal style to address larger issues. Collectively, English recalls how they “just wanted a completely different art world”, bring rebellion and freedom to what had formerly been a “very restrictive place”.
Another inspiration for English was Andy Warhol, who he met in New York at this time. Breaking the didactic between high and low art, and employing the imagery of advertising and everyday culture, Warhol was the King of Pop Art. “I wouldn’t have the career I’ve had without Warhol. He paved the way”, says English. Deciding to focus primarily on painting at this point, major New York gallery shows and commercial success followed for him.
During the 1980s and 90s, English moved beyond Warhol’s Pop art to become an early forerunner of Pop Surrealism, in which artists distort recognisable symbols, characters and iconography in unexpected ways. Building on his earlier experimentations with ‘culture jamming’, English incorporated comic book characters into adverts to create more politically-motivated work.
Throughout the 2000s, English continued to parody famous cartoons, from Ronald Macdonald to Mickey Mouse, as well as creating his own characters, in sculptural form and paintings. His first was Mc Supersized, based on the hit film, ‘Supersize Me’, while more recently he has devised an entire world, Delusionville, which he has populated with three-headed rabbits, big bad wolves, and a Punk Skunk.
Telling his subversive stories through other media, English has written stories, poems and songs about Delusionville, in a drive to create “alternative realities.” Working across art forms, this reflects his wider collaborations with the likes of Slash and The Dandy Warhols, for whom he has provided LP artwork.
As time went on, Ron English evolved into a pioneering figure in the emerging Pop Surrealist movement. He found his artistic voice by subverting corporate advertising and famous cultural icons, a technique he called "culture jamming." This provocative and satirical approach made a powerful statement about consumerism, media manipulation, and the commodification of society.
While his work has often been met with controversy and criticism, it has undeniably left a lasting impact on the art world and beyond. His audacious approach to confronting societal issues through art has earned him both staunch supporters and vocal detractors. However, this dichotomy is precisely what makes his work so potent - it sparks conversation, challenges norms, and evokes emotions in viewers.
English’s paintings are rich in detail, displaying masterful brushwork, and a keen eye for colour and composition. The use of vivid and bold colours is a hallmark of English's art. He employs striking colour palettes that enhance the visual impact of his work and help draw attention to the central messages he wishes to convey. The sharp contrast between bright and dark tones further adds to the dynamic nature of his paintings. English's sculptures, often featuring a mix of cartoonish characters and realistic forms, carry a touch of whimsy while conveying a serious underlying message.
Ron English's art is a reflection of his diverse influences and experiences. His ability to blend elements from pop culture, advertising, street art, surrealism, comics, and political activism creates a compelling and thought-provoking body of work. Through his art, English challenges viewers to examine the world around them critically and contemplate the consequences of the culture in which they participate.
Having seen Picasso’s epic, anti-war mural in person, English decided that he wanted to do “100 versions of it in every way that I could think of.” Taking this art historical icon as his template, he refers to it as “a melody that you redo. Everyone recognises it and knows what it means.” While reframing it, he perceives that the original “undercurrent gives other subjects meaning”.
It was in 1937 that Picasso painted ‘Guernica’ as a powerful piece of propaganda, protesting the horrific bombing of the Basque town by Fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. However, rather than painting the tragic scenes of war with realism, his mural borders on the surreal and caricature, allowing him to persuade the public with the appeal of a dramatic storyboard.
In his debut release with Castle Fine Art, Ron English has reframed Picasso’s most famous masterpiece ‘Guernica’ in a series of revolutionary interpretations. Using the renowned artwork as a template, English has intertwined humour, satire, and social commentary with characters from his very own Delusionville and the Star Wars franchise for this powerful release.
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