Laura Rathe Fine Art presents Pop, a thought-provoking, Pop Art-centered group exhibition

River Oaks District gallery, Laura Rathe Fine Art, is proud to announce Pop, a provocative group exhibition featuring new works from renowned artists Paul Rousso, Charles Patrick, Gavin Rain, Robert Mars, James Verbicky, Christopher Schulz, and Gary Komarin. The opening reception will be held Thursday, February 23rd from 6-9pm at our River Oaks District gallery (4444 Westheimer). Artist talk will begin at 6:30pm.

First used in 1954 to describe a group of British artists, the term Pop Art by the 1960s had become synonymous with a new American art movement that appropriated images, techniques, and materials from mass media and popular culture presented in bold, graphic formats. Pop Art continues to uphold its presence in contemporary art today.

Pop presents a roster of esteemed artists each equally captivated by everyday consumer products ranging from advertisements and billboard signs to film and television icons. Though each artist’s style varies in approach and design, there is an intensity to the collection which aims to hold a mirror to the face of the viewer, challenging us as consumers of the very same products and entertainment of which the artists are inspired.

Creating a dialogue between themselves and the viewer, each artist presents uniquely inventive techniques of employing physicality in their oeuvre - transcending dimensionality using hand sculpted polystyrene, layers of concentric dots, and individually placed entomology pins to create a moment greater than themselves. Not only does Pop feature never before seen work from each artist, but this exhibition marks the debut of Paul Rousso’s latest genre, Bubble Pop, continuing a new dimension of his flat depth work he’s been perfecting for over forty years. 

Pop will be on display through March 20th, 2023.