XLARGE is very proud to present our 5th artist in our Gallery Series, Andy Howell. Howell is a former professional skateboarder turned artist; fusing styles from graffiti, tribal, graphic novel, caricature, abstract impressionism, Dadaism, etc.
Once described by London’s The FACE Magazine as “Disney on Drugs”, his work pokes a political stick at man’s obsessions and excesses, confining his subjects to the interrogations room of his imagination, and barely giving them breathing room on the canvas. He paints “transcendental moments,” which he describes as “the actual moments when the layman transcends daily mediocrity, whether it be in discovery, triumph, or escape.” He works in sizes ranging from 4”x 6” to 24’x10’ and paints on anything from found doors and tabletops to electrical boxes on the street to skateboard decks to canvas and paper. Howell states, “In all my endeavors, striving to push beyond society’s limitations, I have always felt people wanted to pidgeon hole me into a category or definition, putting me into an uncomfortable box. That feeling often comes across in my work, as well as its converse, complete freedom, which has also been a major voice. My influences at the moment range from early native American art to space age modern design, which has been resulting in pieces that I can only describe as my vision of humans in futuristic tribes.”
He will be displaying new works on canvas along side our limited edition pillows and tee shirts that will be available at the gallery opening on Dec. 6th Thursday, starting at 7 PM.