Rik Catlow's self proclaimed "urban pop art" style has developed over a number of years and countless influences. Drawing inspiration from his years working in New York City, he has tried to capture the typographic chaos the city bombards its inhabitants with. Rik layers paper and paint to create dense compositions that have a kinship with guerrilla advertising that is so prevalent in most urban environments.
His world has a dark sense of humor with characters that have befallen some tragedy or deformity. Using found objects like smashed beverage cans and wood for canvases, his work has an organic weathered look. He combines raw materials like paper, paint, wood and a dash of humor to create his artistic witches' brew. Rik's process is quite random, forgoing compositional sketches. He lets each step guide his next and rarely works in a way that has a predetermined outcome.
Born in Hoboken, NJ in 1970, he studied illustration at The Kubert School and The School of Visual Arts in New York City. Recently, he completed a painting for 20th Century Fox's Family Guy, which had a two year tour with notable stops at the Paley Center for Media in LA & NYC. His art has been shown all over the US, Europe, Canada and Australia and his work has been featured in publications such as The Seattle Stranger, Portland Mercury and Advanced Photoshop. He currently resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife Wassa, daughter Becca and their fat tabby cat Bobo.
(read less)Rik Catlow's self proclaimed "urban pop art" style has developed over a number of years and countless influences. Drawing inspiration from his years working in New York City, he has tried to capture the typographic chaos the city bombards its inhabitants with. Rik layers paper and paint to create dense compositions that have a kinship with guerrilla advertising that is so prevalent in most urban environments.
His world has a dark sense of humor with characters that have befallen some tragedy...
(read more)
