We love this piece by Jojo Anavim. Blurring whose work blurs the line between mass consumerism and fine art. Anavim is also recognized for his commissions for NBA players, business moguls and top-charting musicians including Amar’e Stoudemire, Seth McFarlane, Selena Gomez, Big Sean, Sheldon Adelson, Paris Hilton and Daymond John.
We sat down with the artist at Quidley & Company Fine Art Gallery, where you’ll find his art, to ask about his path and future.
Sue G. Collins: For readers interested in investing in art or just one piece for their home, what questions would you ask them to find a good fit?
Jojo Anavim: The first thing I ask any potential new collector is whether or not they love the piece. When you’re living with a piece of art, it’s important that it resonates with you whether that be aesthetically emotionally, spiritually or otherwise. My paintings have a lot of layers and the one thing I hear most after someone acquires one is they notice something new every time they look at the painting and as a result grow to love it more over time.
SC: As a child you enrolled in art classes taught by Disney animator Al Baruch, creator of the legendary characters Captain Hook and Mighty Mouse and you’ve credited Baruch with instilling creative confidence that led you to embrace art as more than a hobby early in your life. Your work often depicts the nostalgia of the brands and packaging you were surrounded by during this time - down to the LifeSavers your grandmother would always carry in her purse. How much does nostalgia play into our decision-making process when finding art we love?
JA: No matter how much material wealth one has I’ve found it’s impossible to recreate the happiness and excitement brought on early in your life, so naturally anything nostalgic to me as a kid seems to be an integral part of my visual language, and thankfully that translates to many of my collectors as well.
SC: We love your rich and vibrant color palates, vintage ephemera, alongside subversive and playful imagery paying homage to contemporary art greats Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns. What will gallery visitors see this month at Quidley?
JA: I have a wide range in terms of my subject matter and the team at Quidley & Co always does an exceptional job of juxtaposing my works with other artists on the roster. You never know what you’re going to see next and I think that’s what makes it exciting.