Cartoon Characters Proliferate in Contemporary Art as Artists Explore Animation's Dual Realities
A significant trend has emerged among contemporary artists who incorporate Western cartoon figures into their creations. In 2012, Ian Cheng produced an animated video for Liars that included Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. At the 2013 Lyon Biennale, Dan Colen exhibited sculptures of Roger Rabbit and the Kool-Aid Man, while Bjarne Melgaard displayed a provocative sculpture of the Pink Panther. Joyce Pensato's 2014 exhibition, 'Joyceland,' featured portraits of Homer Simpson and Donald Duck. Mark Leckey’s video 'Prop4aShw' (2010/13) showcased a man dressed as Felix the Cat. Additionally, artists such as Ed Fornieles and Zach Reini have also delved into cartoon themes, drawing inspiration from Philip Guston and Roy Lichtenstein.
Key facts
- Contemporary artists are extensively using Western cartoon characters in their work.
- Dan Colen and Bjarne Melgaard presented works at the 2013 Lyon Biennale featuring Roger Rabbit and the Pink Panther.
- Joyce Pensato's 2014 exhibition 'Joyceland' was held at Lisson Gallery in London.
- Mark Leckey's video 'Prop4aShw' (2010/13) discusses entities existing in dual worlds.
- George Henry Longly performed a fashion show at the Serpentine Gallery in 2013 using Flintstones imagery.
- Ed Fornieles's 2013 installation 'Despicable Me 2' was shown at Mihai Nicodim in Los Angeles.
- Zach Reini's series 'WWMMD?' (2011–14) explores Mickey Mouse's absence.
- David Musgrave's 1997 sculpture 'Animal' gives Snoopy internal organs.
Entities
Artists
- Ian Cheng
- Dan Colen
- Ed Fornieles
- Anthea Hamilton
- Paul Housley
- Sam Keogh
- Mark Leckey
- Oliver Laric
- George Henry Longly
- Bjarne Melgaard
- Joyce Pensato
- Zach Reini
- Jordan Wolfson
- Peter Wächtler
- Mathias Poledna
- George Condo
- Armen Eloyan
- David Musgrave
- Philip Guston
- Roy Lichtenstein
- Jeff Koons
- Robert Zemeckis
- Friz Freleng
- Christopher Lloyd
- Theodor Adorno
- Walter Benjamin
- Daffy Duck
- Bugs Bunny
- Elmer Fudd
- Edvard Munch
- Georges Seurat
- Salvador Dalí
Institutions
- Lisson Gallery
- Serpentine Gallery
- Mihai Nicodim
- Gavin Brown's Enterprise
- Lyon Biennale
- Licensing Expo
- Warner Bros
- DreamWorks Animation
- ArtReview
- Louvre
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Los Angeles
- United States
- New York
- Lyon
- France
- Las Vegas
- Hollywood
- Brooklyn
- Denver
- Woodstock
- Toontown