The international, multi-award winning artist, Gary Taxali, launched his first UK solo show at Steve Lazarides’ The Outsiders gallery in London last week. Running until early June, the exhibition includes over forty works of various media and size in the dungeon-esque gallery space. Taxali – admired and instantly recognised for his nostalgic 1930s style, his banal yet witty observations run strongly throughout his work. Influenced by iconography, and old style typographic packaging, his work is not only wonderfully appealing but surreal and humorous at the same time.
It’s hard to imagine that Taxali has over 500 awards under his belt, including a very prestigeous Grammy nomination for his work with musician Aimee Man, yet this is his first UK solo show. My personal favourites include the ironic and endearing Nervous Pete, My Feelings Are Complicated and Jail-Time; and Gary introduces new characters at My Feelings Like You, including Friendly Dave and the permanently abashed Chumpy. “I see them as androgynous”, says Gary, “but they are self-portraits too… my avatars”.
A must-see show, it’s a great introduction (if you need one) to one of popular culture’s finest contemporary artists.
My Feelings Like You runs until 2nd June at The Outsiders, 8 Greek Street, Soho, London W1D 4DG
Photograph © We Heart
“Shanti”
183 x 107 cm (unframed)
Mixed Media on Wood Panel
Photograph © We Heart
“Skunk Electric Soap”
152.5 x 203 cm (unframed)
Mixed Media
Photograph © We Heart
“Coins”
35.5 x 36.5 cm (unframed)
Mixed Media
“Jail-Time”
20.3 x 27.5 cm (unframed)
Mixed Media
Photograph © We Heart
“Your Excuses”
18 x 26 cm (unframed)
Mixed Media
