James Gobel

Gallery Affiliations: Steve Turner Contemporary, Marx & Zavattero, Kravets | Wehby

Region: Pacific Coast

In my felt, yarn, and acrylic paintings, chubby bears act out a campy 1980s rock ‘n roll fantasy. Music continues to play a pivotal role in my work. Lyrics from pop and rock songs are titles for my pieces and are often embedded in the works themselves. My latest work channels rock stars as the primary narrative thread running throughout, as my characters act out on stage against a dizzying array of strobe and footlights, their hips in movement, microphones held aloft like trophies, their faces the epitome of resolute sincerity. A deliciously wonderful sense of abandon permeates this new series, elevating my portly men to icon status.