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Barry McGee

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Barry McGee
McGee Mural on Houston and Bowery
Born1966 (age 57–58)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma materSan Francisco Art Institute
OccupationVisual artist
Known forPainting
MovementMission School,street art
Spouse(s)Margaret Kilgallen(1999–2001; death);Clare Rojas(m.2005)
Children1

Barry McGee(born 1966) is an American artist. He is known for graffiti art, and a pioneer of theMission Schoolart movement.[1]McGee is known by hismonikers:Twist,[2]Ray Fong,[3]Bernon Vernon,[4]andP.Kin.

Life and education[edit]

Barry McGee was born in 1966 in San Francisco, California.[2]He is of Chinese and Irish descent.[5]His father worked at an auto body repair shop.[5]McGee graduated fromEl Camino High SchoolinSouth San Francisco,California.

He attended theSan Francisco Art Institute,where he graduated in 1991 with a concentration in painting and printmaking.[6]

McGee was married to the artistMargaret Kilgallenin 1999, who later died of breast cancer in 2001.[7]They have a daughter named Asha.[7][5]After Kilgallen's death, McGee married artistClare Rojasin 2005.[5]

Work[edit]

"Acclaimed for his work in the street as a graffiti artist and for his painted installations in galleries, museums and art festivals around the world, Barry McGee crafts a visual language that makes itself understood. It is public, addressing social concerns of urban life, and very private, elaborating a unique personal style that focuses on humanity, one painstakingly detailed, fine brush-painted image at a time.[8]"

Career[edit]

Commissioned murals typical of Barry McGee's earlier work and graffiti in theLACMAparking garage (now torn down)

Barry McGee has exhibited, both solo and group, in galleries internationally.

McGee was a central figure in thegraffitiart scene in San Francisco from the late 1980s and into the 1990s.[9]As Twist, he became well known nationally by his stylized black and whitepictographicflathead screwgraffiti 'throw ups'.Later he was part of theMission Schoolart movement based in the aesthetics of theMission Districtof San Francisco.[10]His work is founded on a pessimistic view of theurbanexperience, which he describes as, "urban ills, over-stimulations, frustrations, addictions & trying to maintain a level head under the constant bombardment of advertising". He was also an artist in residence atinner-cityMcClymonds High SchoolinOakland, California,in the early '90s. Although his artistic origins lie inNew York subway graffitihe has been included as a member of thestreet artmovement[citation needed].

Installation,Xe Biennale de Lyon

McGee's installations consist of simple bold paintings which are influenced byIslamic patternsontiles,vernacularsign painting,or usecaricaturesof the destitute. These paintings are clustered together in combination with photographs of other graffiti writers. Older work included layering of shapes, andbuff marks,backgrounds of drips painted directly on the gallery wall. He has painted stylized portraits on empty bottles ofliquor,flattened spray cans, and wrecked vehicles for art shows. He has collaborated frequently with Amaze, allowing him to paint the exterior and interior of the galleries exhibiting McGee's work. They have also utilized realistic moving mechanical human figures that appear to betagginggallery walls.

The market value of his work rose considerably after 2001 as a result of his being included in theVenice Biennaleand other major exhibitions. As a result, much of his San Franciscostreet arthas been scavenged or stolen.[11][12]

Controversies[edit]

In September 1999, a 64-foot-long, 8-foot-high mural made up of 300 pieces, made by Barry McGee and financially sponsored by theLuggage Store Galleryand the Creative Work Fund, was stolen off a vacant commercial building in theSouth of Marketneighborhood of San Francisco.[13]It was never recovered.[14]

In 2004, as part of an exhibit atSan Francisco's City Hall,[15]McGee spray-painted "Smash the State" on the walls of SupervisorMatt Gonzalez's office.SFGatewrote: "The timing and placement of the artwork are interesting, seeing how City Hall is a registered historical landmark, and you need approval just to hang a bulletin board". Gonzalez told the press that he knew his office would be repainted for the next occupant.[16]

McGee was involved in a controversy regarding theAdidasY1 HUF, a shoe for which he provided the artwork. This gave rise to a protest campaign by some Asian-Americans who claimed that the picture on the shoe's tongue depicts a raciststereotype.[3]McGee responded to the controversy in a March 2006 press release.[17]He stated that the drawing was a portrait of himself as an 8-year-old child.

Selected exhibitions[edit]

Woman photographing a Barry McGee installation,Xe Biennale de Lyon

See also[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

  • McGee, Barry, Ellen Robinson, and Katya Tylevich.Barry McGee.Bologna: Damiani, (2018).ISBN978-8862086165
  • Boas, Natasha.Energy that is all around: Mission School: Chris Johanson, Margaret Kilgallen, Alicia McCarthy, Barry McGee, Ruby Neri.San Francisco: San Francisco Art Institute Chronicle Books, (2014).ISBN978-1452142180
  • Rinder, Lawrence, and Barry McGee.Barry McGee.Berkeley & New York: University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc, (2012).ISBN978-1935202851
  • Rose, Aaron (editor),Barry McGee.Tokyo: Damiani, (2010).ISBN978-8862080965
  • Kilgallen, Margaret, et al.Margaret kilgallen: in the sweet bye & bye.Los Angeles: California Institute of the Arts/REDCAT, (2006).ISBN978-0974983165
  • Bertelli, Patrizio, Barry McGee. Fondazione Prada, (2002).ISBN978-8887029215
  • Kawachi, Taka,Street Market: Barry McGee, Stephen Powers, Todd James.Little More, (2000).ISBN978-4898150399

References[edit]

  1. ^Gonzalez, Matt (December 17, 2015)."Review: Barry McGee" China Boo "".Juxtapoz Magazine.RetrievedNovember 23,2022.
  2. ^ab"Barry McGee".Art21.RetrievedNovember 23,2022.
  3. ^abTunison, Michael (April 14, 2006)."Asians Decry Adidas Shoe as a Misstep".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.RetrievedNovember 23,2022.
  4. ^Valentine, Ben (October 11, 2012)."Does Barry McGee Have Something to Prove?".Hyperallergic.RetrievedNovember 23,2022.
  5. ^abcd"Three Artists, One Love Story".The New Yorker.Condé Nast. August 3, 2015.RetrievedNovember 23,2022.
  6. ^"McGee, Barry".SFMOMA.RetrievedJanuary 31,2024.
  7. ^abSmith, Roberta (July 4, 2001)."Margaret Kilgallen, a San Francisco Artist, 33".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedNovember 23,2022.
  8. ^"Barry McGee, Gallery Paule Anglim, San Francisco".January 5, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon January 5, 2007.RetrievedNovember 3,2019.
  9. ^"McGee, Barry".SFMOMA.RetrievedJanuary 31,2024.
  10. ^"McGee, Barry".SFMOMA.RetrievedJanuary 31,2024.
  11. ^"The Mission school"ArchivedJanuary 4, 2007, at theWayback Machineby Glen Helfand,San Francisco Bay Guardian,October 28, 2002.
  12. ^"Twist Thief"by Trippe,Fecal Face(website), December 13, 2007. (scroll down)
  13. ^Brazil, Eric (November 15, 1999)."Art theft is fairly common – but a mural?".Citizens' Voice.San Francisco Examiner.p. 44.ISSN1070-8626.RetrievedNovember 23,2022.
  14. ^"Missing mural: Blue period for S.F. art lovers".Record Searchlight.San Francisco Examiner. November 16, 1999. p. 9.RetrievedNovember 23,2022.
  15. ^"McGee, Barry".SFMOMA.RetrievedJanuary 31,2024.
  16. ^Lelchuk, I.Lelchuk, Ilene (December 10, 2004)."Last word on government: Graffiti installation in Gonzalez's office gets mixed reviews".The San Francisco Chronicle.RetrievedMay 10,2006.San Francisco Chronicleon the web, December 10, 2004.
  17. ^[1][dead link]
  18. ^"Deitch".September 20, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon September 20, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  19. ^"Installations".Rice Gallery.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  20. ^Levin, Kim (June 25, 2001)."Panic Attack".Village Voice.Archived fromthe originalon January 1, 2007.RetrievedDecember 6,2006.
  21. ^"Barry McGee, Gallery Paule Anglim, San Francisco".January 5, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon January 5, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  22. ^"BrandeisNOW".Brandeis.edu.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  23. ^"Circle Culture Gallery".Archive.is.November 30, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon November 30, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  24. ^"Roberts Projects".Robertsprojectsla.com.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  25. ^"watari-um – exhibition – バリー・マッギー triển".Watarium.co.jp.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  26. ^"BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art".March 31, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon March 31, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  27. ^"Riverside Art Museum – Exhibitions – The Big Sad: Barry McGee & Clare Rojas".October 19, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon October 19, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  28. ^"Barry McGee – Signals".April 29, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon April 29, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  29. ^"A Moment for Reflection: New Work by Lydia Fong".Ratio 3.2008. Archived fromthe originalon January 26, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 17,2010.
  30. ^"ANNEX – Kevin Earl Taylor – Exhibitions – Circle Culture Gallery".Archived fromthe originalon January 19, 2013.
  31. ^"Biennale de Lyon 2009 – Pictures gallery".October 30, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon October 30, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  32. ^"The Last Night".Alice Gallery Brussels.2010. Archived fromthe originalon July 20, 2010.RetrievedNovember 5,2010.
  33. ^"BAM/PFA – Art Exhibitions – Barry McGee".November 15, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  34. ^"Barry MCGEE – Contemporary Art Exhibition".www.perrotin.com.RetrievedNovember 3,2019.
  35. ^Barry Mcgee Légende vivante du graffiti,Beaux Arts Magazine, No. 448, Octobre 2021, pp. 68-75

Bibliography[edit]

  • Barry McGee. 2002.Barry McGee: The Buddy System.ISBN0-9648530-3-5
  • Barry McGee, Germano Celant, Prada. 2003.Barry McGee.ISBN88-87029-21-0
  • Aaron Rose and Christian Strike (editors). 2004.Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture.ISBN1-891024-74-4

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barry_McGee&oldid=1232808494"