Chet Zar's Skullflower Series Blends Life and Death at Copro Gallery

Chet Zar, known for his incredible monster art, has just unveiled a new series called Skullflower, which combines vibrant floral patterns with skull imagery. The inspiration came from a hibiscus that his wife, Lisa, gave him; he took a photo of it resting in a skull's eye socket. This led him to create a square piece for The BLAB! Show, showing a hibiscus growing from a skull. The positive buzz on social media prompted him to develop "Skullflower II," featuring a ladybug. Adapting his usual approach, Zar began using photos for lighting and changed his color palette to include bold yellows, oranges, pinks, and reds. His successful sales motivated him to keep going. Fans view the skull-flower concept as a reflection on life and death, which inspired the name for his 2024 solo show at Copro Gallery in Santa Monica. This exhibition included Skullflower pieces, plain skulls, and his well-known monsters. One standout piece, "Corpseflower," features a fuchsia flower with arms in a prayer pose and gained a lot of attention. This series has also influenced Zar's color choices in his monster artworks, drawing from artist Dos Diablos. Reflecting on his newfound appreciation for flowers, Zar humorously said, "You’re just used to seeing flowers. I feel like an idiot for never really looking at them." This piece originally appeared in Hi-Fructose issue 73.