Todd James "Business as Usual" @ Galeria Javier Lopez

Known for his album artwork for the Beastie Boys in addition to recent installations for Miley Cyrus’s controversial performance, Todd James‘s latest offering sees his second solo show in Spain’s Galeria Javier Lopez. Titled Business as Usual, James presents a set of paintings with the idea that “despite recent apocalyptic fervor, the status quo maintains its dominance throughout the world.” Based on this concept, James delivers gouache and graphite paper drawings and huge acrylic canvases to overhaul the gallery — where women, pets, colorful soldiers and pirates never fall too far from its key motifs. Avoiding any formal outlines, the dimensionless paintings amalgamate Somali pirates with California housewives, sharply criticizing society’s inability to distinguish right from wrong. These characters become inspirations to James’s compelling rendition, where absurdity and humor are prominent throughout.

Galeria Javier Lopez
12 Calle Guecho,
28010 Madrid,
Spain