“Enjoy Yourself; It’s Closer Than You Think” is the new solo exhibition of Phoenix based artist Randy Slack, currently on view at the Joseph Gross Gallery at University of Arizona in Tucson.
This exhibition offers a cohesive collection of work that showcases Randy Slack's distinctive pop style, his skill, and enthusiasm for life while featuring intriguing imagery of Arizona, Volkswagens, cartoons, and attractive celebrities curated by Brooke Grucella. According to Slack his "work explores the development of human identity through the connections with family, place and consumerism,” which the artist brilliantly demonstrates through his work blending pop culture icongraphy with humor and energy, creating engaging work that is both original and enchanting. The exhibition showcases a striking collection of four substantial paintings that encompass the stark modern gallery truly reflects the artist’s sense of leisure and nostalgia in pairing the painted classic VW Bus with iconography from the 1970’s and 80’s.
A highlight of the show is #Myrtle Installation created in 2016 features a life size painting on wood of Slack's beloved "Myrtle" Volkswagen Bus placed in front of a loosely rendered but stunning landscape of the Grand Canyon. Slack went on to say that “this bus literally drives through several loose narratives within the exhibition, linking adventure, life, love, and loss to this beloved classic car."The works are meant to reference Slack’s upbringing, as well as his love affair with the “hippie mobile,” utilizing the vehicle to symbolically embody life experiences, both celebrated and tragic all while making the most out of life,” states Grucella.
Randy Slack is a self-taught artist and the co-founder of the artist collective 3carpileup along with Chaos Theory, an annual group exhibition that takes place in October (for the last 17 years) highlighting local Arizona artists and held at Legend City Studios (he co-owns the space) in downtown Phoenix. Slack has exhibited his work nationally at such venues as the Phoenix Art Museum, Modified Arts, Mesa Contemporary Art Museum and the University of Central Missouri, just to name a few. His work is included in several prestigious both public and private collections including the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA). Want to see more of Slack's artwork then head to downtown Phoenix where you can see his work sprinkled throughout the FOUND:RE Hotel, as well as at posh eatery Lux in downtown Phoenix.
This body of work offers a glimpse into the artist's imagation and life, bringing together both his passions and tribulations effortlessly depicting vast landscapes, intricate cartoon characters, car models and more. “Enjoy Yourself; It’s Closer Than You Think” is a must see exhibition and will be on display through August 25, 2017 at Joseph Gross Gallery located at 1031 W. Olive Road, Tucson 85721. The Joseph Gross Gallery maintains regular weekly hours, open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. For more information about the exhibition visit josephgrossgallery.com and be sure to follow Randy Slack on instagram *All images are courtesy and copyright of the artist.
