The Art Guys
Encyclopedia
The Art Guys are a collaborative artist team based in Houston, Texas
.
"The Art Guys (Michael Galbreth and Jack Massing) who met at the University of Houston in 1982, have carefully crafted a presence and wacky notoriety that places them at the heart of the Houston art scene and has captured the attention of a national audience. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, they employ a variety of media for the exploration of their ideas including drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, performance and video. The Art Guys create diverse works designed to engage, amuse and challenge viewers by seducing them with a playful sense of humor.
Described in the New York Times as "a cross between Dada
, David Letterman
, John Cage
and the Smothers Brothers
", The Art Guys present a blend of performance, conceptual and visual art that explores the absurdities of contemporary life.
All told, The Art Guys defy categorization, they represent a kink in the art historical continuum – a hiccup, a scratch that can't be itched. They have amused, irritated, enchanted and befuddled viewers with their deadpan humor and irreverent antics. Regardless of how they are remembered in the annals of American art, their audience will never be the same."'
- from "The Art Guys: KIT AND CABOODLE "
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 1999
. For the exploration of their ideas, they employ a wide variety of media including sculpture
, drawing, performances, installations and video.
Described in the New York Times as "a cross between Dada
, David Letterman
, John Cage
and the Smothers Brothers
", The Art Guys present a blend of performance, conceptual and visual art that explores the absurdities of contemporary life.
"The Art Guys: Seeing Double," Tampa Museum of Art, 2007
"America's Greatest Artists," Galerie Stefan Andersson, 2004
"SUITS: The Clothes Make the Man," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 2001
"The Art Guys Again and Again," the Tacoma Art Museum
, 1999
"Visualize The Art Guys," Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
, 1996
"The Art Guys: Think Twice," Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston
, 1995
"Flux Attitudes,"The New Museum of Contemporary Art, 1992
"Project Diomede," P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, 1989
Creative Time: The Book. New York, New York, 2006.
Houston Contemporary Art. Shanghai, Shanghai Art Museum, 2006
.
Suits: The Clothes Make the Man. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2000.
Guinness World Records 2000 Millennium Edition, Britain: Guinness World Records, Ltd., 2000.
The Art Guys Think Twice. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1995.
Autoportraits Contemporains: Here’s Looking At Me. Lyons, France: Espace Lyonnaise d’art Contemporain, 1993.
FluxAttitudes. New York, New York: The New Museum of Contemporary Art, 1991.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
"The Art Guys (Michael Galbreth and Jack Massing) who met at the University of Houston in 1982, have carefully crafted a presence and wacky notoriety that places them at the heart of the Houston art scene and has captured the attention of a national audience. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, they employ a variety of media for the exploration of their ideas including drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, performance and video. The Art Guys create diverse works designed to engage, amuse and challenge viewers by seducing them with a playful sense of humor.
Described in the New York Times as "a cross between Dada
Dada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
, David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
, John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
and the Smothers Brothers
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
", The Art Guys present a blend of performance, conceptual and visual art that explores the absurdities of contemporary life.
All told, The Art Guys defy categorization, they represent a kink in the art historical continuum – a hiccup, a scratch that can't be itched. They have amused, irritated, enchanted and befuddled viewers with their deadpan humor and irreverent antics. Regardless of how they are remembered in the annals of American art, their audience will never be the same."'
- from "The Art Guys: KIT AND CABOODLE "
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 1999
History
The Art Guys have worked together since 1983 after meeting while students at the University of HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. For the exploration of their ideas, they employ a wide variety of media including sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
, drawing, performances, installations and video.
Described in the New York Times as "a cross between Dada
Dada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
, David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
, John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
and the Smothers Brothers
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
", The Art Guys present a blend of performance, conceptual and visual art that explores the absurdities of contemporary life.
Selected exhibitions
"Cloud Cuckoo Land: Selections from 25 years of Drawings, Proposals, Failed Schemes and Pipe Dreams," Galveston Arts Center (currently traveling), 2007-2008"The Art Guys: Seeing Double," Tampa Museum of Art, 2007
"America's Greatest Artists," Galerie Stefan Andersson, 2004
"SUITS: The Clothes Make the Man," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 2001
"The Art Guys Again and Again," the Tacoma Art Museum
Tacoma Art Museum
In May 2003, Tacoma Art Museum opened a new facility twice the size of its previous home, allowing the museum to expand on its vision and mission. American Institute of Architects AIA Gold Medal winner Antoine Predock designed the building located in the heart of Tacoma’s Cultural District...
, 1999
"Visualize The Art Guys," Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 1994 in Kansas City, Missouri. The core of the museum's permanent collection is the Bebe and R. Crosby Kemper Jr. Collection, a gift of the museum's founders. The collection includes works created after the 1913 Armory Show to works by present-day...
, 1996
"The Art Guys: Think Twice," Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
The Contemporary Arts Museum – Houston is a not-for-profit institution in Houston, Texas, dedicated to presenting the contemporary art of our time to the public....
, 1995
"Flux Attitudes,"The New Museum of Contemporary Art, 1992
"Project Diomede," P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, 1989
Selected Bibliography [Books and Catalogs]
The Art Guys: Cloud Cuckoo Land (Selections from 25 Years of Drawings, Proposals, Failed Schemes and Pipe Dreams). Galveston, Texas, Galveston Arts Center, 2007.Creative Time: The Book. New York, New York, 2006.
Houston Contemporary Art. Shanghai, Shanghai Art Museum, 2006
.
Suits: The Clothes Make the Man. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2000.
Guinness World Records 2000 Millennium Edition, Britain: Guinness World Records, Ltd., 2000.
The Art Guys Think Twice. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1995.
Autoportraits Contemporains: Here’s Looking At Me. Lyons, France: Espace Lyonnaise d’art Contemporain, 1993.
FluxAttitudes. New York, New York: The New Museum of Contemporary Art, 1991.