Born in an era of mash-ups and derivatives, I am a cultural omnivore, taking inspiration wherever it is found. I draw heavily upon American folk art and the work of Regionalist painters such as Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton. I blend these elements with classical themes, religious iconography, and contemporary pop culture. The result is a fantastic amalgam that is as much Gilgamesh and Grimm as Monty Python and Mario Bros.
Though my work is full of humor, it is by no means frivolous. We live at a critical point in our nation’s history. We are redefining who we are and our role in the world. We must be active participants in rewriting this collective narrative—not simply by voting or taking to the streets, but by looking at ourselves and making a decision about who we choose to be.
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Michael McDevitt
Statement
Born in an era of mash-ups and derivatives, I am a cultural omnivore, taking inspiration wherever it is found. I draw heavily upon American folk art and the work of Regionalist painters such as Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton. I blend these elements with classical themes, religious iconography, and contemporary pop culture. The result is a fantastic amalgam that is as much Gilgamesh and Grimm as Monty Python and Mario Bros.
Though my work is full of humor, it is by no means frivolous. We live at a critical point in our nation’s history. We are redefining who we are and our role in the world. We must be active participants in rewriting this collective narrative—not simply by voting or taking to the streets, but by looking at ourselves and making a decision about who we choose to be.
artspan is contemporary art