Press Release – AGO Book Launch for “Mono Taxali” and “I Love You, Ok?”
TWO NEW CONTEMPORARY ART BOOKS FROM AWARD-WINNING ARTIST GARY TAXALI
Acclaimed artist releases two art monographs:
TORONTO, ON. – SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 – Internationally acclaimed artist Gary Taxali, whose art has appeared everywhere from prestigious galleries such as the Andy Warhol Museum, to the covers of magazines such as Newsweek or The New York Times is pleased to announce the release of his two new monographs: “I Love You, Ok?” (published by teNeues) and “Mono Taxali” (published by 27_9). These are the first two comprehensive books on contemporary art to be released that span Taxali’s 20 year art career, and are a must have for any collector of contemporary art.
“I Love You, Ok?” released last month, showcases one of illustration’s most original stars. Inspired by vintage comics and period advertisements, Gary Taxali tweaks conventional styling and context to cast light on life’s constant paradoxes. Life, love, consumer frenzy, or just that longing for something else – Taxali covers all the bases. Creating vibrant images with consummate skill, his work is bold and evocative. Whether adolescent obsessions or middle-aged angst, Taxali delves into the desires and preoccupations that make us human with his signature and distinctive pop culture style and iconography.
Taxali’s second monograph, “Mono Taxali” officially releasing September 27, 2011 contains many of Taxali’s fine artwork and is a vivid, timeless, nostalgic and a stunning pop culture homage for anyone who is a Taxali fan.
The books are being released at a launch event at the Art Gallery of Ontario on Wed September 21, 2011 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by a signing in Los Angeles at La Luz de Jesus Gallery on Saturday October 8 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
There will also be a private book signing at the Lady Gaga and Made In Polaroid Exhibit during New York Fashion Week at Phillips de Pury in New York on Wednesday September 14th at 6:30 pm where Gary will also be exhibiting some works which you can see here.
See the AGO Art Matters Blog here for more info on the event.
For more information on Gary Taxali, go to www.garytaxali.com, www.taxali.com and www.taxalionline.com/blog. For interviews and review copies, please contact Vandana Taxali at vandanat@rogers.com or 416.865.0800
RSVP: rsvp@garytaxali.com or via the Facebook Event Page.
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“Gary Taxali is one of those rare artists whose work is immediately inviting and familiar, yet idiosyncratic and unmistakable …. The illustrations are beautiful both as images and fluid, abstract mark making… Taxali’s fluid integration of both illustration and art, or illustration as art, is a testament to the strength of his vision” – Shepard Fairey
“His stuff has everything I like. It’s original, it’s graphic, it has color and humor, it’s personally symbolic in a way that is oddly relatable. …. There are a handful of people in my life who remind me of what art is really all about” – Aimee Mann
“The attitude is lowbrow yet the work is highbrow … We all know that pop culture is also fine art – and this is Gary’s contribution to the fine art world” – Ferruccio Giromini
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About Gary Taxali:
Gary Taxali is an award-winning illustrator and fine artist. Taxali is known for taking his unique characters, graphics, symbols and icons and intertwining them to produce works of fine art. His signature pop culture works are infused with 1930s-style packaging, posters, typography and advertising with original and sophisticated characters and graphics onto distressed surfaces.
In addition to working for many clients in the advertising, design and editorial worlds, he devotes a portion of his time teaching and lecturing at various organizations and schools, including Danmarks Designskole (Copenhagen), Istituto Europeo Di Design (Rome) and OCAD University, where he is a faculty member.
He has won over 500 awards including a Gold Medal from The Society of Illustrators, and a National Gold Addy. He was shortlisted for a Cannes Lion and in 2009, he received a Grammy nomination for Best Package for Aimee Mann’s album” “@#%&*! Smilers”.
His unique retro style has appeared on the covers of Newsweek, and he has clients as diverse as Rolling Stone, GQ, Esquire, Warner Brothers, Sony, and The New York Times. He lives and works in Toronto, Canada.
