Angie Mason
American born artist Angie Mason b.1973 in northern New Jersey to factory working parents, Jeanne her mother who was a weaver at an artistic label loom factory and her father Vincent who was a cookie dough dumper in a cookie factory. She was uprooted quite often during her younger years, growing up all over New Jersey and in other places such as Puerto Rico and Florida. She also has three sisters one older and two younger. Her parents divorced when she was 11 and she lived with her father for the rest of her schooling till after highschool she left New Jersey to attend Parsons School Of Design in New York City, she graduated with a B.F.A. in 1997.
Mason's works are exhibited nationally throughout the United States and is emerging in the international art world as well. Her paintings are strong in color and character heavy concepts. In Mason’s paintings she creates a visual playground where she deals with the human condition and emotions through the use of creating slightly off quirky characters that are beautifully rendered yet have a painterly hand and an innocent raw touch.
Her childlike charm within these works is quite addicting much like a sweet bottle of soda...too much caffeine and sugar will rot your teeth. With that said there is a dark side to these works that make her seemingly cute characters also twisted, moody bruised souls. Mason's use of light and dark play a perfect balance on this see-saw of a visual ride. Her melancholy menagerie of characters and worlds are a funny, whimsical, dark and tragic view at the wonderful mess of life. – See more of her work at www.angiemason.com .
Born in Northern New Jersey but uprooted quite often during her younger years, Angie grew up all over New Jersey and other places such as Puerto Rico and Florida. She received her B.F.A. in ‘97 from Parsons School of Design in New York City. Mason’s works are exhibited throughout the United States and Internationally in such places as Berlin, London, Tokyo and Paris. A chaotic disjointed upbringing influenced and helped form her visual
imagination and sensibilities. Angie’s works are strong in color and heavy incharacter concepts. Her varied influences range from such things as humor, relationships, dreams, love, failure and illness. These influences cause a balance of light and dark that intermingle in her work creating a visual playground bringing to life quirky characters that are beautifully rendered yet with a painterly hand gives them an innocent raw touch. Within the Artwork of Angie Mason one finds a realm dark & wonderful where her saturnine creatures exist with their touching sad yet hysterical scenarios. These seemingly cute characters are in fact twisted, moody bruised souls. They are monstrous beings that are sad, ugly, losers who have a longing and desire for something better combined with a hint of innocence there is an air of hope in Mason’s work. Making characters and worlds that are both horrific and humorous, yet speaks of what it means to be human. Her melancholy menagerie of characters and worlds are a funny, whimsical, dark and tragic view at the wonderful mess of life. – See more of her work at www.angiemason.com
The Artwork of Angie Mason is a dark wonderful world where many strange characters are lurking around just looking to be hugged or perhaps not. In her realm exists saturnine creatures that speak of what is to be human. Through their touching sad yet hysterical scenarios, her characters seem to locate the darkest place inside you, tickle it, and then cuddle it to sleep.
Angie Mason was born on May 22, 1973 in northern New Jersey but was uprooted quite often during her younger years. She graduated with a B.F.A. in 1997 from Parsons School of Design. Mason's works are exhibited nationally throughout the United States and is emerging in the international art world as well. Her paintings are strong in color and character heavy concepts.
In Mason’s paintings she creates a visual playground where she deals with the human condition and emotions through the use of creating slightly off quirky characters that are beautifully rendered yet have a painterly hand and an innocent raw touch. Her childlike charm within these works is quite addicting much like a sweet bottle of soda...too much caffeine and sugar will rot your teeth. With that said there is a dark side to these works that make her seemingly cute characters also twisted, moody bruised souls.
Mason's use of light and dark play a perfect balance on this see-saw of a visual ride. Her melancholy menagerie of characters and worlds are a funny, whimsical, dark and tragic view at the wonderful mess of life. – See more of her work at www.angiemason.com .
Currently, Angie is living in a spooky old house in Northern, New Jersey. Angie Mason will be doing a solo show at Strychnin Gallery in Berlin Germany July 2007.
Solo Shows and Representing Galleries:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Represented By (Works Available At)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
STRYCHNIN GALLERY, NYC-BERLIN-LONDON
Orbit Gallery Space,Edgewater, New Jersey
ArtStar Gallery,Philadelphia,Pa.
Headquarters Galerie, Montreal,Canada
ThinkSpace Gallery,Los Angeles,Ca.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Solo Exhibits : Past and Upcoming
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
September 2008:The Rabbit-Hole Gallery - Atlanta,Georgia - SOLO SHOW
December 2007:Frozen Monkey Gallery - Hoboken,New Jersey - BITS & PIECES- SOLO SHOW
July 2007:Strychnin Gallery - Berlin,Germany - LIFE SORE SPORES- SOLO SHOW
July 2006:Schmancy Gallery-Seattle,WA. - DELECTABLE DEMONS SOLO SHOW
May 2006:ArtStar Gallery-Philadelphia,PA. - HOUSE BROKEN SOLO SHOW
July 2001: Ristra Gallery, Hoboken NJ - SOLO SHOW : Paintings and Drawings
Group Show History:
- - - - -
2007
- - - - -
December 2007: Feinkunst Krüger - Hamburg, Germany Don't Wake Daddy 2 -Group show
December 2007: Schmancy Gallery - Seattle,WA. Group show
December 2007: Strychnin Gallery - Berlin & London Holiday Group show
November 2007: DVA Gallery - Chicago,IL. Pick of the Harvest Group show
October 2007: Art Whino Gallery - Washington D.C. Group Show
October 2007: Strychnin Gallery - LONDON. Grand Opening Group Show
October 2007:Foster Museum, Wisconsin - Rome is Burning Group Show
September 2007:Harold Golen Gallery, Miami,Florida - Grand Opening Group Show
August 2007: Foundation One Gallery, Atlanta,GA. Group Show
June 2007: ThinkSpace Gallery - Los Angeles,Ca. Remission:Charity Art show
June 2007:HeadQuarters Galerie, Montreal,Canada - Knock Your Socks Off Group Show
June 2007:Rivet Gallery, Columbus,Ohio - Grand Opening Group Show
June 2007:McCaig & Welles Gallery, Brooklyn,NY - ArtDorks Group Show: Squared
May 2007: Windup Gallery, Phoenix Az. - Inaugeral Group show:The Rising
April 2007: Alcove Gallery, Atlanta,GA. Group Show Cartoon Madness
April 2007: CryBaby Gallery, AsburyPark, NJ. Group Show
April 2007: ThinkSpace Gallery, L.A. Ca. Picks Of the Harvest Group Show
March 2007: Jem Gallery, Vancouver Canada - Ladies Only Group Show
February 2007:Strychnin Gallery, NYC - Dark Hearts and Broken Vows Show
January 2007:Operation Fragmentation Group Show BOMA Gallery, Ohio
January 2007: ThinkSpace Gallery - Los Angeles,CA. - Group Show
- - - - -
2006
- - - - -
December 2006:Strychnin Gallery NYJL Charity Event NYC
December 2006:Operation Fragmentation Group Show - Ohio
December 2006:Feinkunst Krüger - Hamburg,Germany - Don't Wake Daddy Group Show
November 2006:Guild of the Black Eagle presents "II" Salon Group Show-NYC
November 2006:MF Gallery - NYC,NY - Annual Group Toy Show
November 2006:ArtStar Gallery - Philadelphia,PA - Holiday Group Show
October 2006:Strychnin Gallery NYC - Arcanum Group Showcase with other artists such as Lori Earley, David Hochbaum, David Stoupakis, Travis Louie and Kris Kuski to name a few.
October 2006:Toyroom Gallery-Sacramento,CA. - 'Everything Nice' A Women's Group Show
October 2006:Space Gallery-San Francisco,CA. -Sick and Loaded Group Show
October 2006:Blah Blah Gallery-Online -Modern Monster Group Show
October 2006:ThinkSpace Gallery-Los Angeles,CA. - Group Show
September 2006:BlackCat Gallery-L.A. - Group Show
September 2006 MF Gallery,New York City,NY. -Halloween Group Show
September 2006:Mmodern Gallery-Palm Springs,CA. - Women With Issues Group Show
August 2006:McCaig-Welles Gallery-Brooklyn,NY - 2007 Artist Preview Group Show
July 2006:Strychnin Gallery Berlin Germany - Art Attacks Group Showcase
July 2006:Headquarters Galerie-Montreal,Canada - Group Show
June 2006:BlackCat Gallery,Los Angeles,CA. - Group Show Festival
June 2006:ThinkSpace Gallery-Los Angeles,CA. - Group Show
May/June 2006:Guild of the Black Eagle presents "I" Salon Group Show-NYC
April 2006 MF Gallery,New York City,NY. -Girls Girls Girls Group Show
March 2006:OX-OP,Minneapolis,MN. - Juxtapoz Group Show
March 2006:BlackCat Gallery,Los Angeles,CA. - Group Show
January 2006:DVA Gallery,Chicago,Il - House Sale : A Group Show
January 2006:CB's 313 Gallery,New York City,NY- Visual Residue : A Group Show
- - - - -
2005
- - - - -
December 2005:Feral Gallery,Santa Fe,New Mexico -Art Party Show
December 2005: Head Magazine Feature - U.K.
Nov.-Dec. 2005:Territory Magazine Volume4 Exhibit - Tokyo,Japan
Nov.-Dec. 2005:MModern Gallery,PalmSprings,Ca.- BlastFromThePast Group Show
Nov.-Dec. 2005:MF Gallery,NYC,NY - Toy Show
Nov.-Dec. 2005:ArtStar Gallery,Philadelphia,Pa - Ornament Group Show
November 2005:Give Into The Groove Charity Event - Los Angeles,Ca
October 2005:DvA Gallery,Chicago,Il - Werewolf Bongo Party Group Show
October 2005:Territory Magazine Volume4 (International)Exhibit and Feature - Paris,France
August 2005:Alcove Gallery,Atlanta,Ga - Fruit Bowl Group Show
July 2005:Vitale Gallery - St. Petersburg Florida - Hot & Bothered A Group Show
June 2005:Pr1mary Space Gallery,Hamtramck,Mi - 'Primary Red'Group Show
June 2005:Toyroom Gallery,Sacramento,Ca -'Six Offenders'Group Show
May 2005:Vitale Gallery - St. Petersburg Florida - Ladies Room A Group Show
May 2005:Blah Blah Gallery - Special Guest Featured Artist
February 2005:Gallery 1988,Los Angeles,Ca - The Valentine's Variety Show
January 2005:The Lab 101 Gallery,Culver City,Ca - Eye of the Beholder Group Show
- - - - -
2004
- - - - -
September 2004:BlackCat Gallery,Los Angeles,Ca - Vicious: A Group Show
August 2004: The Tart Gallery Tart Of The Month Artist Spotlight
July 2004: Sumo Shop - Featured Artist
April 2004 : OX-OP Gallery, Minneapolis Mn - Rated XX - Group Show
March 2004 : CB's 313 Gallery, N.Y.C- Mangled Menagerie Group Show
- - - - -
1990-2003
- - - - -
February 2003 : The Be Gallery, Asbury Park NJ - Valentines Day Group Show
November 2001: Ristra Gallery, Hoboken NJ : Unity: Together For Tomorrow Benefit Show
August 2001: Hoboken Arts and Music Fest - Group Show
March 1997: Parsons Gallery, NYC NY : Illustration Show Senior Thesis Exhibit
1991: NJ Arts Council Exhibit Tour : Group Show
1990: Rutgers Gallery NJ : Group Show
Selected Press
Official Artist Press Kit
July 2007: Life Sore Spores SOLO SHOW@ Strychnin Gallery Television Interview, New Talents T.V. Berlin Germany
May 2007: Mung Being Magazine Artist Feature and Interview
April 2007: BlahBlah Gallery Artist Feature and Interview
February 2007: Music Is Art Blog Feature
January 2007: Low Magazine, Show Review Germany
December 2006: Fuse Television Interview at Strychnin Gallery
October 2006: The Extra Finger Blog Interview
September 2006: Interview for HDTV at MF gallery Halloween Show
May 2006: Show Review Artitcle in Philly Metro Newpaper
March 2006: Star Tribune Reviews Juxtapoz Group Show Featuring my painting in the article along side Jeff Soto, Elizabeth McGrath and Camille Rose Garcia. December 2005: Interview for HDTV at MF gallery Toy Show
December 2005: Head Magazine Feature - U.K.
October 2005:Territory Magazine Volume4 (International) Feature
May 2005:Blah Blah Gallery - Special Guest Featured Artist
August 2004: The Tart Gallery Tart Of The Month Artist Spotlight
July 2004: Sumo Shop - Featured Artist
Artists Statement:
My visual playground is full of freaky dogs, depressed hearts, devilish deviants and angelic sad sweetness. It is a stitched queasy quilt of patchwork emotions, an imperfect, cracked veiny world in all it's beautiful imperfections. It is a place where failures, wishers and dreamers live; A place that brings laughter and sadness together for tea. It is a funny, whimsical, dark and tragic view at the wonderful mess of life.
A disjointed upbringing influenced and helped form my visual imagination and sensibilities. I visually explore the twisted combinations of funny and sad, of dark and light. The human experience is full of many strange tragic moments that are sad yet, at the same time, so full of comedy. I like the balance of opposites and using my characters as a way to paint truths about being human creating this balance or a tug of war between good and evil, hope and despair. We all have to face demons in our lives and in my paintings my characters are sometimes facing theirs or are in fact the demon themselves. I convey a mixed up bag of emotions by showing elements of loneliness, joy, love, sadness and longing sprinkled throughout.
Aside from personal life influences, my inspiration comes in many forms ranging from imagination such as memories and dreams to fairy tales and folklore, music, design, surrealism and Bosch. I surround myself with obscure, fantastic information, odd objects and loads of imagery including Folk and Visionary art, the occult, old antique found objects, nature, nonsense, carnival images, mythology, legends, pseudo science and comics. Having a wide scope of personal interests only deepens my artistic vision allowing me to utilize and personalize knowledge within my own work.
Creating magic in life and making a personal universe is a wonderful gift not only to myself but also to the others around me. A wise cookie I ate once told me "Ideas you may believe are absurd ultimately lead to success. Lucky numbers:22, 12, 7, 36, 4, 25"
I visually explore the twisted combinations of opposites through the creation of slightly off characters by combining funny and sad, dark and light, innocence and danger, cute and ugly playing in perfect balance with each other. The human experience is full of many strange tragic moments that are so sad yet, at the same time, so full of comedy. It is this type of life truth that I chose to focus on within my work. Dealing with the human experience and condition by using my characters as a way to paint my truths about being human creating this balance or a tug of war between good and evil, hope and despair. We all have to face demons in our lives and in my paintings my characters are sometimes facing theirs or are in fact the demon themselves.
Other Relating Resources
Lowbrow (art movement)
Juxtapoz Magazine
External links
* Angie Mason Official Art SIte
* Angie Mason on Myspace
* Strychnin Gallery
* Interview in MungBeing Magazine