Lowbrow, alternatively termed lowbrow art, represents an underground visual art movement that originated in the Los Angeles, California region during the late 1960s. This populist artistic current draws its cultural foundations from diverse influences, including underground comix, punk music, tiki culture, graffiti, and the street-based hot-rod subcultures. It is also frequently identified as pop surrealism. A characteristic feature of lowbrow art is its incorporation of humor, which can manifest as joyous, mischievous, or sardonic commentary.
Lowbrow, or lowbrow art, is an underground visual art movement that arose in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1960s. It is a populist art movement with its cultural roots in underground comix, punk music, tiki culture, graffiti, and hot-rod cultures of the street. It is also often known by the name pop surrealism. Lowbrow art often has a sense of humor—sometimes the humor is gleeful, impish, or a sarcastic comment.
While paintings constitute the majority of lowbrow artworks, the movement also encompasses various other mediums, such as toys, digital art, and sculpture.
History
The genesis of what would later be recognized as lowbrow art can be traced to early underground cartoonists, notably Robert Williams and Gary Panter. Pioneers such as Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, Dan "Plasma" Rauch, and Camilla Elke were instrumental in establishing Lowbrow as a multifaceted counter-cultural phenomenon, encompassing street art, zines, fashion, and graffiti. The movement's core objective was to challenge conventional artistic norms and subvert established "rules," a stance that frequently elicited resistance from prominent figures and institutions within the art world. Initial exhibitions were hosted in alternative galleries across New York and Los Angeles, including Psychedelic Solutions Gallery in Greenwich Village, New York City, managed by Jacaeber Kastor; La Luz de Jesus, directed by Billy Shire; and 01 gallery in Hollywood, overseen by John Pochna. The movement experienced consistent growth from its inception, attracting numerous artists to its distinctive style. This expansion in artistic participation was paralleled by an increase in galleries dedicated to showcasing lowbrow works. A pivotal moment occurred in 1992 when Greg Escalante facilitated the inaugural formal gallery exhibition to accord serious recognition to lowbrow art: Anthony Ausgang's solo show, "Looney Virtues," at the Julie Rico Gallery in Santa Monica. The Bess Cutler Gallery further contributed by exhibiting significant artists and broadening the scope of art categorized as lowbrow. The magazine Juxtapoz, co-founded in 1994 by Robert Williams, Greg Escalante, and Eric Swenson, has since served as a foundational publication for discourse on lowbrow art, significantly influencing its trajectory and expansion.
Etymology
Robert Williams asserted his role in coining the term "lowbrow art" in an article published in the February 2006 edition of his magazine, Juxtapoz. He recounted that in 1979, Gilbert Shelton of Rip Off Press opted to publish a collection of Williams' paintings. Williams explained his decision to title the book with the self-deprecating phrase The Lowbrow Art of Robt. Williams, acknowledging that no established art institution would validate his artistic style. Consequently, "lowbrow" was employed by Williams as an antithesis to "highbrow." He noted that the designation subsequently became entrenched, despite his personal view that it is unsuitable. Williams characterizes the movement as "cartoon-tainted abstract surrealism," and more recently, has begun to describe his individual artistic output as "Conceptual Realism."
Notable artists
- Anthony Ausgang
- Van Arno
- Mark Ryden
- Robert Williams
- Coop (artist)
- Camille Rose Garcia
- Shag
- Todd Schorr
- Greg Simkins
- Amy Sol
- Kenny Scharf
- Gregory Evans
- Ray Caesar
- Esao Andrews
- Luke Chueh
- Marion Peck
- Benny Arte
- Tara McPherson
- Sunny Buick
- Audrey Kawasaki
- Michael Leavitt (artist)
- Tim Biskup
- Gary Baseman
- Sas Christian
- Colin Christian
Magazines
- Juxtapoz
- PORK (magazine)
- Beautiful/Decay Magazine
- Tokion is a publication available in both Japanese and U.S. editions.
- Hi-Fructose
- Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
- Hey Magazine
- Chicago Imagists
- Dieselpunk
- Kustom Kulture
- Middlebrow
- Outsider art
- Superflat
- Underground art
References
Citations
Sources
Cullison, Sherri (2002). Vicious, Delicious, and Ambitious: 20th Century Women Artists. Schiffer Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-0-7643-1634-0.
- Cullison, Sherri (2002). Vicious, Delicious, and Ambitious: 20th Century Women Artists. Schiffer Pub. Limited. ISBN 978-0-7643-1634-0.Jordan, Matt Dukes (2005). Weirdo Deluxe: The Wild World of Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow Art. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-8118-4241-9.Rose, Aaron; Strike, Christian; Baker, Alex (2004). Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture. Iconoclast. ISBN 978-1-891024-74-0.Shire, Billy (2011). La Luz de Jesus 25. Last Gasp. ISBN 978-0-86719-764-8.Tropeano, Mauro (2020). Lowbrow Art / Pop Surrealism (The Origins / The History). Blurb. ISBN 978-1-715-77565-0.Williams, Robert; McCormick, Carlo; Reid, Larry (2004). Anderson, Kirsten (ed.). Pop Surrealism: The Rise of Underground Art. Last Gasp. ISBN 978-0-86719-618-4.
- Interview with Kirsten Anderson, editor of Pop Surrealism
- 2005 L.A. Weekly article on lowbrow