The Man with No Heart, 2003
Graphite, gouache, and watercolor on white Strathmore Bristol board
11 1/2 x 11 5/8 in (29.2 x 29.5 cm)
This exhibition features an eclectic gathering of stylistically varied work by alternative comics artists, illustrators, graphic designers, printmakers, and painters from BLAB!, the annual anthology of visual art produced by Chicago-based graphic designer and art director Monte Beauchamp.
BLAB! began in 1986 as a self-published fanzine (fan-produced magazine) devoted to MADmagazine and other EC Comics publications. Today it is a significant outlet for a wide variety of contemporary artists. BLAB!’s influence has cut a broad swath across contemporary visual culture. It has helped launch many artists’ careers. It has introduced American audiences to important contemporary European graphic and comics artists. And, it has contributed meaningfully to the blurring of boundaries between alternative graphics and mainstream illustration. All of the work in this exhibition has been featured in BLAB!.
Artists include: Michael Bartalos, Gary Baseman, Richard Beards, Monte Beauchamp, Tim Biskup, Stéphane Blanquet, Calef Brown, Greg Clarke, Christian and Rob Clayton, Sue Coe, Don Colley, Brian Cronin, Nicolas Debon, Douglas Fraser, Charles Paul Freund, Drew Friedman, Geoffrey Grahn, Steven Guarnaccia, Ryan Heshka, Peter Hoey, Tom Huck, Teresa James, Jeffrey Kamberos, Nora Krug, Peter Kuper, Mark Landman, Laura Levine, MATS!? [Mats Stromberg], Walter Minus, Christian Northeast, John Pound, Archer Prewitt, Chris Pyle, Helge Reumann, Xavier Robel, Manuel “Spain” Rodriguez, Jonathon Rosen, Marc Rosenthal, Sergio Ruzzier, David Sandlin, Bob Staake, Fred Stonehouse, Mark Todd, Chris Ware, and Esther Pearl Watson.
Blab! A Retrospective exhibition venues:
Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, Aug 1, 2008–Nov 1, 2008
Society of Illustrators, Museum of American Illustration, New York, NY, Mar 24–May 1, 2010