Go See – London: Raymond Pettibon at Sadie Coles HQ through January 9, 2010
December 31st, 2009
Raymond Pettibon, No Title (As he enlarged)
Raymond Pettibon brings a collection of new and early works to Sadie Coles HQ in London through January 9th. A prolific artist who has exhibited hundreds of times over a span of decades, the exhibition will convey interesting juxtapositions throughout his aesthetic formation.
more images, text and links after the jump…
Raymond Pettibon, No Title (I play my heart)
Raymond Pettibon (formerly Raymond Ginn) founded the punk-rock band Black Flagg with his brother Greg Ginn, which enjoys a cult-like following to this day. It was in collaborating with his brother (both musically and visually) on the design of their logo, album covers and performance flyers, that Pettibon’s interest in illustration was initially piqued. Similar groups of the punk rock movement, such as The Minutemen and Sonic Youth, soon took notice of the like stylistic nature of Pettibon’s pieces, and employed him to design covers for them as well.
Raymond Pettibon, No Title (Bitch what up)
The combination of new work, as well as noteworthy pieces from his artistically formative years of the 80’s, speak to the viewer in direct and intentional ways. Pettibon’s newer pieces play with the viewer: a mix-tape of Pettibons greatest hits, comic book homages, sensory illustrations and other works depict commentary on politics, pop-culture and society. Unlike their earlier precedents that are bound by well-appointed thin black boxes, these later pieces are full-bleed to the edge of the paper: more exploitative and exclamatory in their choice medium, color schemes and application, their form verges with their content.
Raymond Pettibon, No Title (Having One Awakened)
Pettibon has been described as a reclusive artist who would draw hundreds of drawings a day. His fast application sensibilities, much like in Roy Lichtenstein’s works, are present in such works as No Title (Having One Awakened), where effervescent text floats across the page.
Raymond Pettibon, No Title
An artist influenced by jazz performance, Pettibon believes that the subject matter and composition of his pieces are inextricably linked. In the above piece, the colorful burst seems improvised and shows no sign of a predetermined palette. Yet, the background rock formations indicate a more traditional landscape requiring creative forethought.
Raymond Pettibon, No Title (A breath realised)
Raymond Pettibon is most known for his contribution to the infamous, Helter Skelter, which exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles in 1992. His works are also included in permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Related Links
Raymond Pettibon – Sadie Coles HQ
Raymond Pettibon [ArtNet]
Ray Pettibon, the collection [Ray Pettibon]
All images courtesy of Sadie Coles HQ
-J. Lovallo
January 5th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
[...] London: Raymond Pettibon at Sadie Coles HQ, through Jan. [...]