ABOUT
Gary Taxali is a Canadian contemporary fine artist and illustrator known for his iconic retro style pop art and illustrations. Taxali creates mixed-media works on paper, sculptures, drawings and paintings. His work intersects fine art, pop culture, design and 1930s style iconography, graphics and typography. He is noted as one of the top 100 Illustrators in the world by Taschen (2017).
Gary Taxali was born in Chandigarh, India and raised in Toronto, Canada. Taxali graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD). His fine artwork has been exhibited in galleries in the United States (Jonathan Levine Gallery (NYC), Yves LaRoche (Montreal), Lazarides (London)) and Europe (Antonio Colombe Gallery) as well as museums such as the Andy Warhol Museum, The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the Contemporary Art Museum in Rome.
His retro stylized art is reminiscent of the 1930s and best described as “reinvented pop art” and rooted from an award winning illustration background. His art has a low brow/high brow appeal. It can be seen in galleries around the world such as Lazarides (London), Jonathan Levine Gallery (NYC), Yves LaRoche (Montreal) and The Andy Warhol Museum.
He has won hundreds of illustration and design awards including a Grammy nomination for his album cover artwork for Aimee Mann’s, “Smilers” in 2009. His work is also seen in magazines and editorials (GQ, Esquire, New York Times, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone etc.), products (such as the Royal Canadian Mint Coins), designer toys (collaboration with Chapters Indigo) and fashion (collaboration with Harry Rosen).
Gary has also served as a juror for The Juno’s (Screening Committee) and has also juried many student and professional competitions including The Society of Illustrators, The National Magazine Awards, The Dallas Society of Visual Communications and 3×3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration. He serves on Canada Post’s Stamp Advisory Committee and is a tenured Professor at OCAD University.
Gary has written a children’s book called, “This Is Silly!” published by Scholastic and he also has two monographs of his work, “I Love You, Ok?” published by TeNeues and “Mono Taxali” published by 279 Editions.In 2005, he launched his first vinyl toy, The Toy Monkey, which included a special edition along with a silkscreen print commissioned by The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. This led Gary to create his own toy company, Chump Toys, which recently saw the release of his OH NO and OH OH vinyl figures. In 2012, The Royal Canadian Mint released a special edition of six Gary Taxali 25¢ coins which, in addition to original art uniquely created for the coins, Taxali also did the typography using his font Chumply. Each coin is stamped bearing his initials.
Aside from his gallery shows and illustration work, Gary also devotes a portion of his time teaching and lecturing at various arts organizations and schools such as OCAD University (Toronto, Canada), The Art Director’s Club of Houston (Houston, USA), Dankmarks Designskole (Copenhagen, Denmark) and Istituto Europeo Di Design (Rome, Italy). He was invited to speak to SKAD in Hong Kong in Dec 2013 and October 2014.
He is a Founding Member of IPA (The Illustrators’ Partnership of America). Gary has also juried many student and professional competitions including The Juno’s (Screening Committee), The Society of Illustrators, The National Magazine Awards, The Dallas Society of Visual Communications and 3×3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration and sits on the Advisory Board of 3×3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration. He lives and works in Toronto.
In 2011, two books of his work were released: Mono Taxali, published by 279 Editions, and I Love You, Ok? published by teNeues. In 2012, the Royal Canadian Mint released a special edition of six 25 cent coins which feature Taxali’s artwork. In 2017, Gary published his new book “Happiness With A Caveat” featuring works from the past few years.
“Gary Taxali visually blends now with then. His style, inspired by vintage comics and advertising art, is repurposed with the goal of communicating the ironies and comical essence of popular culture. His work is at once alluring and endearing. Despite the vintage look, he is neither maudlin nor nostalgic. His imagery is rich in satiric verve.”
Clients
Gary's portfolio includes collaborations with fashion icons: Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Nike, and visionary designers like Rei Kawakubo.
Coca-Cola
Converse
Harry Rosen
Levi's
Paramount Pictures
Scholastic
Sony
The Gap
The Royal Canadian Mint
Warner Brothers
Entertainment Weekly
Esquire
GQ
MTV
Newsweek
Penguin Random House
Playboy
Reader's Digest
Rolling Stone
The New York Times
The New Yorker
Time
AWARDS
Gary's portfolio includes collaborations with fashion icons: Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Nike, and visionary designers like Rei Kawakubo.
Grammy Nomination, Best Art Package, Aimee Mann's album “@#%&*! Smilers”
Cannes Lion (Shortlist)
National Gold Addy
The Advertising and Design Club of Canada (Gold Medal)
The One Show
Chicago Creative Club
National Magazine Awards (Gold Medal)
Society of Publication Designers
Communication Arts Illustration Annual
American Illustration
Society of Illustrators (Silver Medal)
Society of Illustrators (Gold Medal, 2)
Grammy Nomination (Best Art Package)
LECTURES
Gary's lectures worldwide on art, design and illustration.
Quebec Association of Illustrators, Montreal, QC, 2003
Illustration Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 2003
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, 2003
Art Directors Club of Houston, Houston, TX, 2003
University of Kansas, MO, 2004
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Canada, 2004
Sheridan College, Toronto, Oakville, Canada, 2004
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 2005
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 2005
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, 2005
Dallas Society of Visual Communications – Student Conference, Dallas, TX, 2005
Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada, 2006
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, 2006
Danmarks Designskole, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2007
Fachhochschule Mainz, Mainz, Germany, 2008
Istituto Europeo Di Design, Rome, Italy, 2008
Merz Akademie, Stuttgart, Germany, 2008
Sheridan College, Toronto, Canada, 2009
Centennial College, Toronto, Canada, 2009
OCAD University, Toronto, Canada, 2009
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, 2009
MagNet Conference, Toronto, Canada, 2010
Pictoplasma Conference, New York City, 2011
Algonquin College, Ottawa, Canada, 2012
United Adworkers, Milwaukee, WI, 2012
University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2013
Design Exchange, Toronto, ON, 2013
Hong Kong Society of Illustrators, Hong Kong, 2013
John St. Agency, Toronto, Canada, 2014
Waddington’s Contemporary, Toronto, Canada, 2014
Grip Limited Agency, Toronto, Canada, 2014
Artscape Salon, Toronto, Canada, 2014
Savannah College of Art and Design – Hong Kong Campus, Hong Kong, 2014
National Institute of Design, Bangalore, India, 2015
Revolver Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2015
Idea Exchange at Design at Riverside, Cambridge, Canada, 2015
First Canadian Place, Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2017
Grafixx Festival, Antwerp, Belgium, 2018
Publications
From Vogue to Harper's Bazaar, Jules Journey's magazine features elevate fashion storytelling, setting new standards with each captivating spread.
book
Year
Title
Publisher
2020
This is Silly! Copy Copy
Scholastic
2020
This is Silly! Copy Copy Copy
Scholastic
Exhibits
Gary's exhibition redefine pop art leaving a lasting impact on global audiences with their innovative narratives.
Year
Exhibit
SHOW
2024
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2024
“Papercut”, Helium Cowboy Gallery, Hamburg, Germany
Group Show
2024
“Line Addicts: Curated by Hi-Fructose and Thinkspace”, Thinkspace Projects, Los Angeles, United States
Group Show
2024
“Bonkers”, La-La Land Gallery, Los Angeles, United States
Group Show
2024
“Art Miami”, Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Art Fair
2023
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2023
“Blab! 18th Annual Group Show”, Copro Nason Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
Group Show
2023
Context: Art Miami, Harman Art Projects. New York, NY, USA
Art Fair
2023
“Nowadays”, Brassworks Gallery Group Show,Portland, OR, USA
Group Show
2023
“Visual Language: The Art of Protest”, Subliminal Art Projects, Los Angeles, United States
Group Show
2022
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2022
“Diet Warhol”, La La Land Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Group Show
2021
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2021
“Don’t Believe Everything You Read”, Tussle Projects, Toronto, Canada
Group Show
2020
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2020
“Fantastical Beasts”, The Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Group Show
2019
“ILLOKONSTANZ”, Public Exhibition, Konstanz, Germany
Solo Show
2019
"Group Show", sp[a]ce Gallery, Pasadena, CA, United States
Group Show
2019
"Let’s Eat”, Giant Robot Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Group Show
2018
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2018
"Fresh stART”, Arena Gallery 1, Santa Monica, CA
Group Show
2018
"SCOPE New York”, Matthew Namour Gallery, New York, NY
Art Fair
2017
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2017
"Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of High Fructose”, Akron Art Museum, Akron, OH
Group Show
2017
"For Goodness Sake”, LA LA Land Gallery, Hollywood, CA
Group Show
2017
"Welcome to New Jersey”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New Jersey, NY
Group Show
2017
"Something Strange in the Neighbourhood”, Feinkunst Kruger, Hambur, Germany
Group Show
2017
"Illustrationen On Ice”, Deutsches Sport and Olimpia Museum, Cologne, Germany
Group Show
2017
"ArtExpo” New York, Wanroiij Gallery, New York, NY
Art Fair
2017
"Cowboyland”, Heliumcowboy, Hamburg, Germany
Group Show
2017
"Letters to the Mayor”, EDIT (Design Museum), Toronto, ON
Group Show
2017
"Wintershow”, Arts Factory Gallery, Paris, France
Solo Show
2017
"Forget What You Know”, Ayzenberg Gallery, Pasadena, LA
Group Show
2016
"Illustrators 58”, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
Group Show
2016
"A Decade of Lazarides – 10th Anniversary Group Show”, Lazarides Rathbone, London, UK
Group Show
2016
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2016
"Keep It Together”, Flower Pepper Gallery, Pasadena, LA
Group Show
2016
"Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of Hi-Fructose”, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA
Group Show
2016
"Greater Toronto: New Artist Textiles” NYCxDESIGN, New York, NY
Group Show
2016
"Grande Ouverture”, Galerie Matthew Namour, Montreal, QC
Group Show
2016
"Cluster”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2016
"Context: Art Miami”, Matthew Namour Gallery, Miami, FL
Art Fair
2016
"Unfamous: The Art of Gary Taxali", First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, ON
Solo Show
2015
"Project 31" , OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2015
"Push Me Pull Me – Pearl Jam Poster Exhibit”, Seattle International Airport, Seattle, WA
Group Show
2015
"Mural Festival”, Yves LaRoche Gallery, Montreal, QC
Group Show
2015
"The Colour and the Fury – 10 Years of Jonathan LeVine Gallery”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2015
"Here and Now”, Idea Exchange at Design at Riverside, Cambridge, ON
Solo Show
2015
“Hotel There”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
Solo Show
2014
"Pictoplasma Portrait Gallery”, Kaufaus Jandorf, Berlin, Germany
Group Show
2014
"Project 31" OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2014
"Egregore – The Zenith of Pop Surrealism”, Yves Laroche Gallery, Montreal, QC
Group Show
2014
"Shanti Town”, Waddington’s, Toronto, ON
Solo Show
2014
"Unforget Me”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
Solo Show
2013
"Buddy System Invitational”, Breezeblock Gallery, Portland, OR
Group Show
2013
"Northern Lights”, Rotofugi, Chicago, IL
Group Show
2013
"Small Works Project”, 2013 Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
Group Show
2013
"NXNE Showcase” SOHO House, Toronto, ON
Group Show
2013
"Wider Than a Postcard”, Group Show, Breezeblock Gallery, Portland, OR
Group Show
2013
"Waddington’s Concrete Contemporary Auction”, Waddington’s Auction House, Toronto, ON
Auction
2013
"Project 31", 2013, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Auction
2013
"Good Work: The Illustration Art Invitational”, Arts Center Gallery, Rochester, NY
Group Show
2013
"Assemblages”, SOHO House, Toronto, ON
Solo Show
2012
"The Post-It Show Eight”, Giant Robot, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2012
"BLAB WORLD 2012”, Copro Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
Group Show
2012
"Project 31", OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
Auction
2012
Contemporary Canadian Art , Waddingtons Auction House, Toronto, Ontario
Auction
2012
"New Blood”, Thinkspace Gallery, Culver City, CA
Group Show
2012
"My Feelings Like You”, The Outsiders (Lazarides), London, UK
Solo Show
2011
"La Luz de Jesus 25th Anniversary Show”, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2011
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
Auction
2011
"Lyric", Group Show, 323 Gallery, Detroit, MI
Group Show
2011
"Traveling Show 53", American Museum of the Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
Group Show
2011
"3D Art Book”, Opera Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2011
"Bologna Art Fair”, Antonio Colombo Gallery, Bologna, Italy
Group Show
2011
"Lucid Dreams”, Noel-Baza Fine Art Gallery, San Diego, CA
Group Show
2011
"Made in Polaroid: 50/50/50”, Phillips de Purys, New York, NY
Group Show
2010
"Small Favours”, Giant Robot Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2010
"100 Heads for Haiti”, Spur Gallery, Baltimore, MD
Group Show
2010
"Group Show”, Gallery Nucleus, Pasadena, CA
Group Show
2010
"Picture Mechanics Show”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2010
"Blow Up”, G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle, WA
Group Show
2010
"Where Is My Vote?”, Art Institute of Boston, Boston, MA
Group Show
2010
"The Vader Project”, Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
Group Show
2010
"Post-It Show”, Giant Robot Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2010
"A Starter Kit for Collectors: Art Exhibition”, Tribes Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2010
"Fantasilandia”, Antonio Colombo Arte Contemporanea, Italy
Group Show
2010
"Never Judge…?”, Stolen Space Gallery, London, UK
Group Show
2010
"monUMENTAL”, Trifecta Gallery, Las Vegas, Nevada
Group Show
2010
"5th year Anniversary Group Exhibition”, Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2010
"BLAB! A Retrospective”, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
Group Show
2010
"Project 31, 2010, OCAD University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Auction
2010
"Christmas Group Show”, The Outsiders Gallery, London, UK
Group Show
2010
"Sanrio 50th Anniversary Art Show”, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2010
"The Taxali 300”, Narwhal Art Projects, Toronto, ON
Solo Show
2009
"Dimebag 3”, Giant Robot Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2009
"Aqua Art Fair”, Yves Laroche Gallery, Miami, FL
Art Fair
2009
"Toronto International Art Fair”, Yves Laroche Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
Art Fair
2009
"Superhero”, Comic-Con Art Exhibition, San Diego, CA
Group Show
2009
"Summer Show”, G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle, WA
Group Show
2009
"Screen Prints”, The Print Club, London, UK
Group Show
2009
"Urban Superstar Festival”, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donna Regina, Naples, Italy
Art Fair
2009
"Berlin’s Smallest Gallery”, Smallery, Berlin, Germany
Group Show
2009
"The BLAB! Show”, Copro Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Group Show
2009
"Some Type of Wonderful”. Lifelounge
Group Show
2009
"Poster Art Show”, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2009
"Natural Beauty”, Mondo Bizarro, Rome, Italy
Group Show
2009
"Group Show”, The 4th Wall Gallery, Dallas, TX
Group Show
2009
"Beautiful Decay A-Z Exhibition”, Kopeikin Gallery, West Hollywood, CA
Group Show
2009
"Group Show”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2009
"True Self Show”, Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2009
"Hindi Love Song”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
Solo Show
2008
"Group Show”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 2008, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2008
"The 1000 Journals Project”, SFMOMA, San Francisco
Group Show
2008
"Flop House Rules”, Iguapop Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
Solo Show
2007
"The Vader Project”, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2007
"Look Behind You”, Giant Robot Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2007
"Charity by Numbers”, Corey Helford Gallery, Culver City, CA
Group Show
2007
"2007 Los Angeles Art Show”, Billy Shire Fine Arts Booth, Santa Monica, CA
Group Show
2007
"Tug Of War”, Hemphill Fine Arts, Washington, DC
Group Show
2007
"Last Year’s Winner”, Magic Pony Gallery, Toronto, ON
Solo Show
2007
"Save The Boreal”, New Print Launch and Show, Magic Pony Gallery, Toronto, ON
Solo Show
2006
"Juxtapoz 2006 Group Show”, OX-OP Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Group Show
2006
"Nanospore Series 01, Customized Figures”, NY Comicon, New York, NY
Group Show
2006
"Customized Munny; Traveling Show”, Kid Robot, New York, NY
Group Show
2006
"MTV Overground #3”, Toy Tokyo, New York, NY
Group Show
2006
"Rumble Rumble: An Art Throw Down”, Artlab, Toronto, Canada
Group Show
2006
"The Up-N-Down Show”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Solo Show
2005
"The Postcard Project” – Fosterart, London, UK
Group Show
2005
"Male Pattern Baldness and Hummingbirds” – Reading Frenzy, Portland, OR
Group Show
2005
"Weirdo Deluxe” – StuARTGallery, Burbank, CA
Group Show
2005
"Pop Pluralism” – Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2005
"Art of Denim” – L’Autre Galerie, Montreal, QC
Group Show
2005
"Picture Mechanics Show” – Musuem of American Illlustration at the Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
Group Show
2005
"Partridge and Pear Trees” – Magic Pony Gallery, Toronto, ON
Group Show
2005
"Built for Speed” – L’Autre Galerie, Montreal, QC
Group Show
2005
"Prints and Posters” – Outer Edge Studio, Monterey, CA
Group Show
2005
"Toronto Art Fair" – Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
Art Fair
2005
"TAAFI” – Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON
Group Show
2005
"Blab Show” – Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Group Show
2005
"Circus Punks Rule” – Toy Tokyo, New York, NY
Group Show
2005
"Day of the Doon” – Bonny Doon Vineyard, Santa Cruz, CA
Group Show
2005
"I Am 8 Bit” – Gallery 1988, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2005
"Art Party” – Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Group Show
2005
"Everything But the Kitschen Sync” – La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2005
"Chumpy’s Night School” – La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Solo Show
2005
"Toy Monkey Launch and New Prints” – Magic Pony, Toronto, ON
Solo Show
2005
"Chumpy’s Specials” – OX OP Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Solo Show
2004
"Ghost Town" – Tin Man Alley, Philadelphia, PA
Group Show
2004
"Dialogue: The Fine Art of Conversation" – Abbey Church, San Diego, CA
Group Show
2004
"Picture Mechanics Group Show" – Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA
Group Show
2004
"10th Anniversary Show" – Giant Robot Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2004
"Contemporary Culture” – City of Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
Group Show
2004
"V&A Awards” – Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
Group Show
2004
"The Art of Laughter, A Salute to Humor” – Jewish Community Center, Santa Monica, CA
Group Show
2004
"A Day on the Lawn” – Froden Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2004
"The Dress Up Show” – Star Shoes, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2004
"Uncommercial Art by Commercial Artists" – La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2003
"Picture Mechanics Group Show" – Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, TN
Group Show
2003
"Cartoon Musuem Show" – Cartoon Museum, San Francisco,CA
Group Show
2003
"Doll House Show" – Copro Nason Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2003
"Hand to Eye" – Magma Books, London, UK
Group Show
2003
"Cubed" – Tin Man Alley, Philadelphia, PA
Group Show
2003
"Robots Have Feelings Too" – Culture Cache Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Group Show
2003
"Uncommercial Art by Commercial Artists" – La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2003
"Qeedrophonic Doll Show" – OX-OP Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Group Show
2002
"La Luz de Leche" – Milk Bedroom Gallery, Toronto, ON
Group Show
2002
"Decipher"– 450 Broadway Gallery, New York, NY
Group Show
2002
"Circus, Carnival, Freaks and Oddities" – CPOP Gallery, Detroit, MI
Group Show
2002
"Picture Mechanics Group Show” – 69A Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Group Show
2002
"Quartered de La Luz" – The Cartoon Network, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show
2001
"New Work” – Anno Domini Gallery, San José, CA
Solo Show
2001
"America Lucky Service“ – La Luz de Jesus Gallery
Solo Show
2001
"Sweet Shop Toys, Candies and Books” – CPOP Gallery, Detroit, MI
Solo Show
"Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
Group Show
AVAILABILITY
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
