Australian born artist Anthony Lister is showing at the Lyons Wier Gallery in New York City from March 19 through to April 19.

A lot of my favorite artists are painters that never really give up using the pencil (line). Painterly paintings are good but so are paintings that look like drawings. I guess I like painterly drawings or linear paintings. I like painterly paintings and linear drawings too

Anthony Lister – Terms of Engagement, 2010
Mixed media on canvas, 39.5 x 39.5 inches

Anthony Lister – BET, 2010
mixed media on paper, 6.5 x 9.5 inches

Anthony Lister Super Girl 1, 2010
Mixed media on canvas, 14 x 11 inches

From the Lyons Wier Gallery blog here..
“Known in the Low Brow movement for his intriguing, playful hybrid of street art, expressionism, and cubism all manifested in non-traditional media such as spray paint; Lister’s new body of work shows the tongue-in-cheek frivolity of his earlier pieces developing (or decaying) into a more mature and disturbing direction. The deformities and un-done aesthetic resolve of Lister’s work provides viewers with a concretization of contemporary societies’ psyche – or, as the artist himself states, “making the obvious more, well, obvious”.”

OPENING: Fri. March 19th, 2010 6-9pm
DATES: March 19th – April 19th, 2010
See more Anthony Lister works from the exhibition here or see the artist’s website here.

Spencer Tunick has encouraged 5000 Australians to get naked and pose on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

That’s not my white bum on the bottom left of the image as I chose not to scare the locals. I’m not much of a morning person either.

From the Sydney Morning Herald.. “The official name of Tunick’s installation was The Base. Yet after waiting two hours for the sun to come up, it became apparent that Blue Poles might be an appropriate title as a brisk wind hit the Opera House steps.”

I like discovering interesting artists that I have never heard of before. French artist Bernard Lorjou (1908-1986) is one of them. I still don’t know much about him but I like his work.

Bernard Lorjou – Bull and Bullfighter (The Friends)

Bernard Lorjou – The Jazz Pianist

Bernard Lorjou – Circus Horse on Hind Legs

Bernard Lorjou – King David

More of his work can be seen at Lorjou.com (it’s a little challenging to navigate but worth the effort) or at the official Bernard Lorjou website.

The good thing about those pathetic art scammers has been that their story never changes. They’re moving from place A to place B, they need some of your wonderful art to hang in their new home, and for some strange reason the stupid woman is always pregnant (God help the world if these people do actually breed).

Well, the idiots are evolving now and are starting to change their stories up a bit. Now they’re “art dealers” and “art exhibitors” looking to buy your work. Here’s an example by the scammer Hanks Thomas..

Hi Andrea,My name is hanks.I’m an art dealer/exhibitor based in bradford in the united kingdom.I deal in original artworks and also showcase them in exhibitions all over the world.I got to see your works via the search engine while looking for artworks of great impression and i’m willing to buy from you the artwork stated as the subject of this email.Kindly let me know if it’s available for sale.If yes,quote the price and let me know the method(s) of payment that is acceptable to you.I’m looking forward to reading from you.Have a wonderful day… Regards,Hanks

Lesson for today: Don’t accept checks/cheques online when selling artwork. Use Paypal.com or Escrow.com.

Thanks Andrea for sharing. There’s more of the email exchange with Hanks Thomas posted on a previous Art Scam post.

Probably the best exhibition I have seen in Australia (coming from a fan of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cezanne). Masterpieces from Paris has 9 Paul Gauguins, 7 Van Goghs and 8 Cezannes. So it’s more than one or two good paintings thrown in with a bunch of weaker paintings like the usual “blockbuster” exhibition. The Van Goghs alone are worth making the effort to see the exhibition.

It has been called the “most valuable collection of art ever to be exhibited in Australia.”

The works come from the Musee d’Orsay in Paris and will be on display at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra until April.

Vincent van Gogh – Starry Night Over the Rhone
I was surprised by how fresh this painting looks. For some reason I expected it to be smaller and duller than it really is. This painting was worth the 5 hour drive.

Vincent van Gogh – Bedroom at Arles
I thought this painting would be bigger. The Musée d’Orsay version of Vincent’s bedroom is a little smaller than the first two versions that he did. Still a great painting.

Vincent van Gogh – Portrait of the Artist
The man himself.

Paul Gauguin – Tahitian Women
I probably should like Gauguin more than I do. He did some really good paintings but I don’t think he comes close to Van Gogh or Cezanne. Having said that, I really liked seeing his paintings in the flesh.

I would show some more works but the NGA website was down. In short, Masterpieces from Paris is a must see if you’re an Australian. They’re easily the best paintings in the country at the moment.

Since discovering the iPod I now rarely listen to whole albums while I paint as I just create play lists to suit my mood. But some albums just play well all the way through so I still use them in the studio.

Here’s Ten albums that have kept me company during the completion of a painting or two..

1. Leonard Cohen – Songs of Love and Hate
   Anything by Leonard is good to paint to though.
2. Antony and the Johnsons – Antony and the Johnsons
   This self titled album is a beauty. Antony Hegarty sings like an angel. All his stuff is good.
3. The Cinematic Orchestra – Ma Fleur
   Lovely album.. how could you not love this?
4. Angus and Julia Stone – A Book Like This
   Australian brother and sister duo.
5. Eddie Vedder – Music for the Motion Picture Into the Wild
   For some reason, this album always makes me want to give away all my possessions and travel. Perhaps it’s because I saw the movie.
6. Joan Valent – Insula Poetica
   Beautifully haunting music.. yum.
7. Moby – Go: The Very Best of Moby
   I sometimes need a lift in the studio.
8. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – The Boatman’s Call
   This album has a habit of taking me back to darker times, so I’m careful how I use it.
9. Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions – Bavarian Fruit Bread
   Her Mazzy Star albums are nice too.
10. PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love
    I no longer have a working version of this CD but that’s because it used to live in my studio.

I really do like a lot of different types of music though. What are your TOP albums that you couldn’t live without in the studio? I need some new tunes on my itunes.

I was asked a few questions by a student journalist at City University London recently..

1) First of all can you tell me a little bit about your work? What themes do you explore in your art and why? What do you strive to achieve through it?

I basically just paint what I want, how I want. I have no social or moral message to give. I stopped selling paintings 18 months or more ago, with no intention to start selling again until I can no longer fit in my house, which has brought about a change in how I see painting. I’m now thinking more about conceptual art and looking at ideas more than thinking about who would buy a work.

2) Recently the Tate Modern was forced to remove Richard Prince’s piece ‘Spiritual America’ from its Pop Life: Art in a Material World exhibition due to a public protest. What is your opinion on the matter? Do you think the piece was justly removed?

I don’t know. We live in a sick world, so we have to draw the line somewhere with images of young people. Having said that, I wish we lived in a world that could see the images as innocent and beautiful. So, as much as I hate censorship, I’m not really sure how I feel about cases like this. The Australian photographer Bill Henson has dealt with similar issues.

3) Do you think art institutions should have the freedom to display boundary-pushing art that may offend certain members of the public? Why?

I think it’s their job to push the boundaries. People that are easily offended shouldn’t visit galleries. They should stay home in their safe, comfortable home and drink tea quietly. Art is either going to look good hanging on your wall or is trying to tell you something. Both forms are equally valid for me.

4) What do you think pushes an artist to create pieces that can cause possible public backlash? Is this a reaction to modern reality or just a means of getting publicity?

It’s both. Most artists by nature are outsiders and like poking sticks at insiders, it amuses them to no end. You could also say it is a sign of the times we live in where you are nothing unless you are the biggest, loudest or most annoying. Many shock artists probably just needed more hugs growing up. Damien Hirst has made a career out of it. His career has been so filled with “shock” that when he paints a relatively normal looking exhibition (like his current one) it is looked at as shocking.

5) What do you think is the social role of art?

I believe there are two kinds of art: an art that should hang well on the wall and an art that has something to say. The latter should use any means possible to speak its message.

6) What do you think are the major changes in the public’s attitude towards art? Do you think our modern society is quick at judging and finding offence in everything?

I don’t know. I don’t think art is really that important to the general public. Nobody really takes much notice of art unless an artist is doing something outrageous. Being an artist or being involved in the art industry tricks you into thinking that art is everything and everyone must appreciate it as it’s so important to you, but the average guy on the street couldn’t care less about art.

Artists like the fact that society is quick to judge and easily offended. Many rely on these facts and play to them.

7) Do you think that by challenging conventional views art can truly make a change in the public‘s perception?

No, I don’t think art has the fire power to affect change in any meaningful way. It will always touch the minority that actually takes notice of art, but art won’t change society unless you include movies, the internet, and music. Things like painting, sculpture, installations, prints, and video art will never change much of society.

It seems that contemporary art is increasingly aimed to disturb and art which is made purely for aesthetic pleasure seems idealistic and secondary (beauty is often considered kitsch). What do you think caused this? Why qualities like disruptiveness and the shock value became marks of success?

It’s the media age. It takes something loud, colourful and shocking to get our attention. A Giorgio Morandi still life would bore most people to death these days. Most people have forgotten how to sit still for any length of time. Silent stillness forces you to look at yourself and that scares most people.

9) In the Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie wrote “What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist”. Do you think freedom of expression truly exists in our modern society?

Of course it doesn’t exist. We’re silly little immature beings that wouldn’t know what freedom of expression was if it punched us in the face. It’s nothing that a few hundred thousand years of evolution won’t fix though. Let’s just hope the earth will put up with us long enough to see us grow up.

I sometimes wonder why? What’s the point? Why make art at all?

It’s usually only after days like today, days that are physically, mentally and emotionally draining.

Everything will be alright tomorrow.

This news is a little late as I have been a very absent blog editor lately, but I keep telling myself that it’s better late than never.

This month the art news site Art Daily turned 13! In internet years thirteen is almost ancient.. well done Art Daily.

Here’s to another 13 years!

Five years no longer sounds old to me.

ARTINFO has reported on the new retail outlet of gallery mogul Larry Gagosian..
“The sleek, 2,500-square-foot, bi-level space, which opened to the public this past weekend, also inaugurates London import (and Gagosian artist) Damien Hirst’s publishing company and retail shop Other Criteria on the lower level, making for a kind of casual art emporium with a fancy ZIP code.” ArtInfo

I’m not against making money from art, but I can’t help thinking some of the super-famous art dealers and artists are taking advantage of poor rich folk. At the end of the day though, it’s a reflection of society rather than the gallery or artist. People love stuff, especially expensive stuff that can make them feel a part of the cool club. So, I’m sure the Gagosian retail store will be a great success.

See some of the products available to buy on the ArtInfo article.