Mark Dean Veca’s art is impossible to pigeonhole – part cartoon, part surrealism, wholly nuts (in the best possible way), the Louisiana native creates a humorously twisted, often psychedelic vision of the world through his weird characters, vivid landscapes and pop-culture imagery.
The latest topic to get the treatment in his Made For You and Me collection is Americana, and the apparent decline in the once proud nation’s society. Themes throughout the work include nationalism, capitalism, consumerism – a whole lot of -isms close to the heart of the artist and the American people. No icon of the US is safe from a going over by Veca, in fact we’re sure some of the less flattering re-imaginings here would spark a riot, or a patriotic protest at least, in some of the more ‘traditional’ states.
Luckily, it’s New York and the Cristin Tierney Gallery that is hosting the work, which started life in 2009 from a growing belief that America is, quite frankly, in all sorts of trouble. Made for You and Me will be critiquing the current state of the American Dream until 9th March.
Installation view, © John Muggenborg, 2013
Mark Dean Veca, Quod Me Solliciti (What, Me Worry?), 2012.
India ink and acrylic on canvas. 48 x 72 inches.
Courtesy of the Artist and
the Cristin Tierney Gallery, NY.
Mark Dean Veca, Starfield, 2012.
India ink and acrylic on canvas. 59 x 83.25 inches.
Courtesy of the Artist and
the Cristin Tierney Gallery, NY.
Installation view, © John Muggenborg, 2013
Mark Dean Veca, Study for Pennybags II, 2012.
India ink and acrylic on canvas. 36 x 54 inches.
Courtesy of the Artist and
the Cristin Tierney Gallery, NY.
Mark Dean Veca, Flag II, 2012.
India ink and acrylic on canvas. 84 x 44 inches.
Courtesy of the Artist and
the Cristin Tierney Gallery, NY.
