Appropriation Art Takes Over London's Summer Shows

Casper Kelly reviews five London exhibitions exploring appropriation art. At The Mayor Gallery, 'Happy Birthday America!' marks the US 250th anniversary with works like Billy Apple's xenographic print of LBJ and Hubert Humphrey, and Edward & Nancy Kienholz's assemblage 'The Wholly Holy Terror'. Tom Wesselmann's 'Great American Nude n. 27' uses collage to preserve a melting sundae. Lucien Smith's 'Burn Down the House' at Kearsey & Gold features machine-painted scenes from The Wizard of Oz. Sara Cwynar's 'Baby Blue Benzo' at The Approach is a 21-minute video installation on consumerism and pharmaceuticals, using Shutterstock and Getty images. Samir Laghouati-Rashwan's 'May God Leave Us Poor' at Studio/Chapple explores Houston's slab car culture and DJ Screw's chopped and screwed music. Marijn van Kreij's 'Living Together' at Pale Horse examines appropriation through collage inspired by a 1977 Newsweek cover, crediting original illustrators like Andy Warhol.