Barry McGee
(United States of America 1966– )
- Title
- Untitled (man with baseball hat)
- Year
- 2000
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- housepaint on metal, 70 panels
- Dimensions
-
70 panels: 33.5 x 23.0 x 1.6cm each panel; 336.0 x 164.0 x 1.6cm installed
- Credit
- John Kaldor Family Collection at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Accession number
- L2010.63.a-rrr
- Copyright
- © Barry McGee
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
Barry McGee began his career in the 1980s as a graffiti artist. Since the mid 1990s, however, he has been known for his unique murals and installations displayed in museums around the world. His experience as a street artist remains central to his practice and is reflected in his style, use of materials and the ideas behind his work.
In this work McGee’s trademark icon – a caricatured male figure with a twisted oddball face and sagging eyes – is depicted in common house paint on 70 metal plates. The plates are repurposed typesetting trays; cast-offs of a changing industry, their corroded, oxidised surface expresses their age and obsolescence. The hulking figure painted upon them bears a similarly worn-down appearance. His mouth open, he seems to gesture towards himself as if attempting to express his story.
- Bibliography (2)
-
Wayne Tunnicliffe (New Zealand; Australia) (Editor), John Kaldor Family Collection, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2011, 214, 215 (colour illus.).
Adam Free (Australia) (Author), Journey to now: John Kaldor art projects and collection, Adelaide, 2003, 9 (colour illus.), 61. illustration is an installation view
- Exhibition history (1)
-
Journey to Now: John Kaldor Art Projects and Collection, Art Gallery of South Australia, 18 Apr 2003–06 Jul 2003.
