The Desirably Disturbing Digital Art of Ray Caesar. A Look at over 30 of his Works.

above: Ray Caesar, Self-Examination, 2011

I always like to feature an artist whose work has a sort of Goth or macabre style around this time of year, in honor of Halloween. This year, it's digital artist Ray Caesar.



above: Ray Caesar, Pollux, 2005 and Castor, 2005

In a similar genre as fellow contemporary artists Natalie Shau, Mark Ryden Nataly (Kukula) Abramovitch, and Marion Peck, Ray Caesar's digitally created portraits feature a grotesque elegance.


above: Ray Caesar, La Chasse, 2011

Humans and animals that are part insect or arthropod and narratives that imply, illustrate or foretell disaster are executed in an illustrative and delicate manner. Below are many of his works, which are created using 3D modeling computer programs, and studies from the past few years.

Home Coming, 2011:

Home Coming, detail:

Queen on Flies, Companion:

A Familial Affectation:

Ebb Tide:

Fly Trap (study):

Eternity, Eris:

Kitten (study):

Kitten:

Ancient Memory:

Decent, Day Break:

Calamity:

Second Sight:

The Widow's Tea Party, The Angel of Innocent Things:

Monday's Child:

Monday's Child, detail:

Revelation:

Impromptu, Harvest:

Metatron (studies):

Metatron:

detail:

The Burden of Her Memory:

Side Saddle, Wallflowers:

Sleeping (study):


His most recent work and his first solo exhibition at the Corey Helford Gallery, "A Dangerous Inclination," just opened Oct 22.



Corey Helford Gallery
8522 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
T: 310-287-2340 T: 323-363-9338
Open Tuesday - Saturday, Noon to 6:00pm

Arrested Motion has a revealing interview with the artist about his works in the Corey Helford show here.


About the artist:

above image courtesy of Jonathan LeVine Gallery

Ray Caesar was born in 1958 in London. At an early age, his family moved to Toronto, Canada, where he currently resides. From 1977—80 he attended Ontario College of Art, followed by 17 years from 1980—96 working in the art & photography department of the Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto, documenting disturbing cases of child abuse, surgical reconstruction, psychology, and animal research. Coupled with inspiration from surrealists Kahlo and Dali, Caesar’s experiences at the hospital continue to influence his artwork. His haunting imagery is created digitally using 3D modeling software called Maya, mastered while working in digital animation for television and film industries from 1998—2001. In 1999, Caesar received a Primetime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Special Effects in a series. For more information about the artist, please visit www.raycaesar.com

Several of Ray's enchanting images are available as Ultrachrome prints. For prices on singles and prints, contact belinda@galleryhouse.ca

Ray Caesar's artwork, prints and books can be found and purchased at the following galleries:
Gallery House
Corey Helford Gallery
Richard Goodall Gallery
Vered Gallery
Jonathan LeVine Gallery
Dorothy Circus Gallery

More Contemporary Artists Interpret The Iconic Playboy Bunny in Playboy Redux II.

above: detail from Vincent Cacciotti's reinterpretation of the Playboy Bunny

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the world famous Playboy Club and the Playboy Bunny, artists reinterpreted the sexy icon in Playboy Redux II, an exhibit featuring the work of over 20 of today's contemporary artists.


above: Hugh with his Playboy Bunnies at the Chicago Playboy Club in 1960.

Known at that time for her satin bunny suit, cotton tail and rabbit ears, the Playboy Bunny served cocktails and glamour in equal doses. Many luminaries once worked as Bunnies, including Deborah Harry, Gloria Steinem and Lauren Hutton.


above: the original Playboy Bunnies

For Playboy Redux: Contemporary Artists Interpret the Iconic Playboy Bunny, artists were asked to create a new look for the Bunny, a veritable makeover to create the Bunny of the future. The selected artists presented a number of new takes on this iconic image, and works in different mediums including photography, painting, sculpture, drawing and video.



The group show, The "Playboy Redux" exhibition was originally shown at The Warhol Museum in March-June, 2010. Copro Gallery is now exhibiting many of these works along with new ones in "Playboy Redux ll". This project is part of Playboy's year-long 50th Anniversary celebration of the Playboy Club and Playboy Bunny. The exhibit is curated by Aaron Baker, Ned West and Copro Gallery.


above: Frank Kozik's reinterpretation of the Playboy Bunny

Graffiti artists, lowbrow artists, cartoonists, photographers, illustrators and sculptors participated including Frank Kozik, Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Tara McPherson and Shag to name only a few.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Tara McPherson:

TIN:

Tim Biskup:

Shag:

Another interpretation by Shag:


Gary Baseman:

Brian Viveros:

Jennybird Alacantra:

Vincent Cacciotti:

Hiroki Otsuka:

William Wray:

Jeremy Fish:

Erik Alos:

Travis Lampe:

Dave Nestler:

Bob Doucette:

Jeremiah Ketner:

Luke Chueh:

Juan Muniz:

Mark "atmos" Pilon:


You can see some more here and still more here.

PLAYBOY, BUNNY and Rabbit Head Design are all marks of Playboy, ©2010 Playboy