Go out on the street…look for him on walls, in magazines and in galleries. The work manifests as sculpture, paintings and toys along with his own movies and cameos appearances. Ron English is just about everywhere. “POPaganda” is the name of choice he has dubbed his art and his claim to fame is with much warranted. That being said Ron takes on contemporary and counter-culture ideas and art. He is recognized in both streams and duly respected.
The work is colorful, hyper-real and extravagant. His
sometimes bizarre references on contemporary consumerism, culture and art
history are amusing and at times disturbing. English does not believe in
leaving his viewers with any lack of zeal. His hand is sure and the technique
masterful. He has influenced elections
as much as any artist especially in the campaign of Barack Obama (2008). His
work “Abraham Obama” was inspired from his feeling that there was a definite
similarity between the 16th President and the then to be 44th
president in looks, demeanor and historical relevance.
You can look for Tony-the-Tiger, Cap’n Crunch and Toucan Sam
as enlarged obese symbols of American obsessive habits and addictions in the English
oeuvre. The Frankenstein Monster, the Incredible Hulk, the Marlboro Man and
Homer Simpson are not spared English’s scrutiny and abuse. Creatures from the
animal kingdom are hardly spared or excluded; English is very generous in his
appetite for extreme satirical candor.
It is actually Pablo Picasso’s Guernica that English has
referenced to the largest degree and number. His recreations and improvisation
on the bombing of the small Spanish village (one of the world greatest and
utterly heartless acts of crimes against humanity) that continues to intrigue
and inspire the contemporary artist. His parody’s can be humorous and ironic
but some are equal to the original even daring to surpass in horror the
original.
English continues to work and explore the infinite. He is an
artist well into but still in his prime and expands his inextinguishable thirst
for creativity. His journey is one that is open to the world. I can only
encourage you as he would love you to join along.
