Karl Wirsum: Printmaker, painter and sculptor on exhibit at IUPUI
More than 100 works of art by renowned artist Karl Wirsum will be on exhibit at the Eleanor Prest Reese and Robert B. Berkshire Galleries now through March 1.
"Me,"is an acrylic on canvas by artist Karl Wirsum (1985) and will be on display at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis.
Karl Wirsum: winsome works(some) opened recently at the Herron School of Art and Design, 735 W. New York St., Indianapolis, on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. The exhibit celebrates the work of one of the most revered artists in Chicago.
Born in 1939, the artist has lived in Chicago almost his entire life and continues to teach at the School of the Art Institute. Wirsum was a notable participant in contemporary group exhibitions, but it was the landmark "Hairy Who" exhibition in the 1964 at the Hyde Park Art Center that established his reputation. Wirsum was identified as a core member of that group which dominated the local art scene for decades, and informed much of contemporary visual art of the period.
Wirsum's imaginary creatures and super hero characters enact bizarre scenes -- figures from outer space perform domestic tasks such as mowing the lawn, and space men happily orbit starry objects. His work exists in the buffer zone between real and imaginary, mundane domesticity and super hero powers, day-to-day existence and daydreams.
His work can be seen in every major public art collection in the country, many of whom have lent work to this monumental exhibition of more than 100 pieces. As a special feature of his exhibit, Wirsum will conduct a workshop with Herron printmaking students and faculty to produce a limited edition print. Orders will be taken opening night to purchase a Wirsum print. Also, catalogs ($20) and Karl Wirsum Paddles ($5) which can be autographed by the artist, will be available for purchase.
All exhibitions are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed Sundays. For a complete gallery schedule, visit www.herron.iupui.edu.
