It Might Be, A Lowbrow Art Exhibit opens September 8 at Gamut Gallery
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 6:29AM
It Might Be curated by Chuck U
You may find yourself asking, “What is Lowbrow Art?” Lowbrow emerged in the 1960’s in California as an extension of Surrealism, Fauvism, and Dadaism. Recognized as an illustrative street style, lowbrow works traditionally invoke humor and whimsy with imaginative compositions that tell a story. During the 1980’s, Minneapolis had a thriving punk and alternative music scene that fostered lowbrow styles incorporated by local artists. Tom Halzelmeyer, owner of Amphetamine Reptile Records was a pioneer in the movement in the Twin Cities with his former gallery Ox-Op, which featured the works of Shepard Fairy, Camille Rose Garcia, Shag, Delak, and more! By the 1990’s when Robert Williams (“the godfather of lowbrow art”) founded Juxtapoz Art & Culture magazine, lowbrow art had intersected with other subcultures such as street art, tattoo art, and illustration, heavily influencing and cross-pollinating commercial art and fine art.
Originally, this artistic approach was highly criticized, however, it began to gain popularity due to its stark contrast to “traditional” art. Rejecting “high art” and instead celebrating popular culture inspired by comic books, B-movies, hot rods and kitsch, the lowbrow movement established a platform for artists to create works with fantasy, surreal, and cartoon elements. It Might Be curator, Chuck U’s interpretation will be aesthetically represented in the roster of international, national, and local artists he has assembled whose illustrative lowbrow styles are expanding the definition of fine art, story, and fantasy, continuing this narrative.
"I hope to embolden people to explore the inclination to seek narrative and meaning within illustrative art and how this commonality is shared between both viewer and artist whether making or digesting artworks. This exploration is a part of the natural human experience of encountering and digesting art. It is important to me to curate and participate in a show that encourages viewers to find meaning in art that resonates with them and to facilitate opportunities for people to connect with art on a personal level regardless of the intent of the artist. The world-building artists involved each creates illustrative works that are accessible to artists and non-artists alike, evolving the idea of what fine art is, what kind of art is valid in gallery spaces, and how anyone can interpret what they see and know they aren’t wrong." - Chuck U
Public Opening Night: Friday, September 8 / 7-10pm
Featuring Alex Kuno, Briana Hertzog, Chuck U, Evan Weselmann, Ewok, Jennifer Davis, John Sauer, Michael Koehler, Riiisa Boogie, Rodrigo Oñate, Swartz Brothers, Tim Molloy, Vivian Le, WingChow. Artist info
- $10 presales available
- $15 day of event, FREE for members
- DJ set by Mike 2600
- Sponsored by Indeed Brewing
Extended Open Hours: Saturday, September 9 / 11am-6pm
Guests are invited to RSVP for a special extended hours. This will be a relaxed setting compared to the “It Might Be” opening party the previous night. Chuck U will be hanging out all day too!
- 15 Guest per hour
- RSVP for FREE soon!
It Might Be Artist Talk - Thursday, September 21 / 7pm
- $5 presales coming soon!
- $10 day of the event
- Limited capacity event
- Free for Gamut Gallery Members, RSVP required. Not a Gamut Gallery member? Become one today!
It Might Be curator, Chuck U, and moderator, Cass Garner sit down for a conversation; Join us to learn about his processes, ideations, and perspectives on his body of work and lowbrow art as a whole.
Chuck U is an illustrator, painter, and muralist from Minneapolis MN. He has been making and exhibiting work professionally for over 15 years and is known for his signature intensive line work and imaginative subjects, color palettes, and compositions. With It Might Be, Chuck U adds his influence to his first curatorial debut and hopes to embolden people to explore the viewers inclination to seek narrative and meaning within illustrative art and how this commonality is shared between both viewer and artist whether making or digesting artworks.
