PREVIEW: Bill Barminski Retrospective Pop-Up Exhibition at Castelli Art Space – Friday, February 23rd & Saturday, February 24th

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Bill Barminski’s work represented the collective thinking of the 80’s in the DTLA art scene. Tex Hitler was my first exposure to Barminski’s work with its political tone and subversive sense of humor. You can say that about Barminski’s art career as a whole: there’s always political commentary and humor in all of his work with each step his has taken artistically along the way. Barminski assent as an artist was concurrent with my own assimilation in DTLA’s burgeoning art scene in the 80’s. Bill Barminski went on to become an influential and prolific artist of some import taking on political and lifestyle topics with his brand of art; from subversive commentary to captivating our imaginations in his commercial work.

His upcoming pop-up career retrospective curated by his friend and film editor Scott Arundale at Castelli Art Space will take place for two nights only. This special exhibition is a one-of-a-kind experience of Barminski’s work spanning over the last 30 years. The pop-up exhibition will take place on Friday, February 23rd and Saturday, February 24th, 2018, from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

A little over 30 years ago, Arundale bought Barminski his first canvas. Arundale encouraged Barminski to put together his first solo show. That first exhibition launched Barminski into the burgeoning LA art scene and spotlighting his talent for all to see. Arundale also produced Barminski’s first exhibitions. The two of them later collaborated on Baz Luhrmann for the “Sunscreen” video popular in alternative music circles.

This retrospective will feature over two dozen paintings by Barminski from various stages of his career. The primary focus will be on his work from the mid-80s to the 2000s. His palette of expression exponentially expanded during the 90’s into lots of new mediums: including, painting, sculpture, animation, music, and video. He went on to create one of the largest and most expensive billboards ever commissioned by Absolute Vodka with the “ABSOLUTE BAR MIN SKI” billboard on Sunset Blvd. Also of note, Barminski created the “security checkpoint”  at the iconic U.K. Dismaland theme park presented by Banksy in 2015. In addition to Barminski’s most recognizable works, the exhibit will also feature a never-before-seen large bronze sculpture he created.

In 2007 Barminski teamed up with Chris Louie to form a creative company called Walter Robot. Barminski began directing music videos in partnership with Louie for Death Cab for Cutie, Gnarls Barkley, Hodgy Beats, Ben Lovett, Kid Cudi, People in Planes, Rob Thomas and many more.

Barminski has raised the bar of our culture’s visual style in nearly every medium for over 30 years. Not bad for an art school dropout. The result of such excellence in creativity finds Barminski now teaching digital media at UCLA and continuing his creative direction. The Barminski retrospective pop-up details can be found in this Cartwheel Art post: SAVE THE DATE: Bill Barminski Retrospective at Castelli Art Space.

Also scroll below to see preview images from the show.

Exhibition:
Bill Barminski Retrospective
Note: On view for only two-nights
Friday, February 23, 2018 | 6pm – 10pm
Saturday, February 24, 2018 | 6pm – 10pm

Address:
Castelli Art Space
5428 W. Washington Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016

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