The Art of Mel Ramos

Mel Ramos (1935 –) is an American artist, born in Sacramento, California. He, along with other artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, and James Rosenquist, produced artworks that celebrated the aspects of popular culture as represented in mass media. His paintings were shown along with theirs in major Pop Art exhibitions both in the United States and in Europe.


(Ramos, Mel. Senorita Rio - The Queen of Spies. c. 1963. oil on canvas.)
His work has been popular ever since 1959 and he has participated in more than 120 shows. He studied at Sacramento State College and graduated in 1957. Soon after, he earned a Masters in Fine Arts in 1958 and became a teacher at various art institutions.


(Ramos, Mel. Chiquita. c. 1964. oil on canvas.)
In 1962 he began a series of garishly colored super-heroes from comic books in which he used a thick oleaginous pigment. In 1963 he was the first artist to be included in a collective exhibition called “Pop Goes the East” displayed at the Contemporary Art Museum in Houston, Texas.


(Ramos, Mel. Plenti Grand Odalisque. c. 1973. oil on canvas.)
By the mid-1960s Ramos had developed a Pop Art iconography by combining nude pin-up girls from American magazines and advertisements with branded products, using a sense of humor. Ramos gives most of his paintings a whimsical name.


(Ramos, Mel. The Nile Queen. c. 1963. oil on canvas.)
“I am for an art that attacks the eyes, I love sight thrills,” says Mel. Ramos also says, “I always make sure that my pictures are not too erotic and that they have a trace of humor.”


(Ramos, Mel. Kiss Me. c. 1965. oil on canvas.)
Mel Ramos has been famous for his Pop Art ever since 1959 and he has participated in more than 120 shows. Also, some say he represents Super realism as well, meaning that his subjects are depicted with a minute and impersonal exactitude of detail, either way, it is wonderful to look at and his work is much appreciated here!

Enjoy! :)

References: The Artists.org,Rogallery.com& Mel Ramos.com

The Art of Viktor Mitic

Viktor Mitic is a present-day painter and sculptor. He was born in Yugoslavia, located in southeastern Europe. His work is very controversial because he uses firearms to create his art.

 
(Mitic, Viktor. 38 Special.
bullets holes from semi-automatic rifle & acrylic on canvas.)

He learned to shoot guns by serving in the Yugoslavian military. He then moved to Canada and then graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in fine arts. Mitic presently lives in Canada but, goes to the United States to create his art because firearms are illegal in Canada.

 
(Mitic, Viktor. Hole Jesus. c. 2008. bullet holes from a semi-automatic rifle, gold leaf& acrylic on canvas.)

Hole Jesus was created by firing 22-caliber bullets at a canvas from an M16 rifle. He was inspired to create the work after an art dealer told him that his work ought to be more ‘penetrating’. It was displayed at Toronto’s Trias Gallery and created a media storm of controversy.

 
(Mitic, Viktor. Winchester Beauty. bullet holes from semi-automatic rifle & acrylic on canvas.)

“Channeling the proper energy as well as choosing the right tool is essential," says Mitic. "I carefully choose the type of ammo and the weapon for each subject I paint. Some viewers consider this to be blasphemous when I focus on religious icons, but I believe that using a gun to create imagery is a sign of our times.”

 
(Mitic, Viktor. The Blast Supper. c. 2009. bullet holes from a semi-automatic rifle, gold leaf& acrylic on canvas.)

Mitic’s work is very notorious because of the way that it is created. He forces the viewer to rethink how they think of guns, whether they think of them as a tool or as a weapon, and his work is much appreciated here! 

Enjoy :) 

Reference: Victor Mitic