Robert Mars
Robert Mars' graphic compositions, glossy textures and rich colors provide the ultimate medium in which to explore his fascination stemming from the Golden Age of American popular culture and the icons of the 1950's and 60's. Drawing inspiration from the near-mythical fame that surrounded celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn before the instant and all-encompassing presence of the internet, Mars' daring approach creates paintings with a nostalgic yet innovative vintage feel.
Parsons School of Design educated, Robert Mars taps into the feelings that emanate from his paintings which vacillate between memory and desire. The taste of nostalgia pulls the viewers towards the iconic stars and the consumerist historical subject material of Mars' works. Mars' sources are the very core of these dreams. Photographs of stars like Bruce Springsteen, logos of products like Coca Cola and TIFFANY & CO. and vintage ephemera are layered in beautifully with news stories of seminal events; from the death of JFK to the 1969 moon walk - these captured moments in history serve as vehicles for bringing the American brand to the world. Introducing new icons into his body of work for his current showcase, Mars yet again bridges the past and present in perspective by depicting larger than life personalities like Lady Gaga and Daniel Craig's James Bond.