Experience the Painted Worlds of Jim Warren
“The New Dawn” (2011), Jim Warren
You don’t just view the art of Neo-Surrealist Jim Warren – you experience it.
Warren conjures child-like wonder and amazement through his colorful portraits, adorable animals and surreal landscapes. Experience the artistic marvel for yourself during Park West Gallery’s newest exhibition, “The Painted Worlds of Jim Warren.”
A free opening reception will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 18 in our Southfield gallery.
This is Warren’s first solo exhibition at Park West Gallery. More than 50 of Warren’s original paintings will be on display, some of which have never been seen by the public. All works will be available to collect.
“Jim Warren has created a visual language of his own, harkening the dreamlike surrealism of Salvador Dalí and bringing in a narrative quality that draws the viewer in, holds their attention, and entertains them,” Park West Gallery Director David Gorman says. “This body of work includes not only iconic Jim Warren imagery, but also a number of canvases that showcase the evolution of a painter who continues to push himself.”
Warren has created art for the past 50 years, including movie posters, book covers, album covers and collaborations with Disney. Warren created the cover for rock legend Bob Seger’s “Against the Wind” album. The album won two Grammy Awards in 1981, one for best recording package.
“New Dawn of Mother Earth,” Jim Warren
The subjects of Warren’s paintings are as various as the vivid hues he uses. Warren’s surreal art is inspired by Dalí and Andy Warhol. He recalls viewing a magazine featuring Dalí and having an epiphany.
“My art class before that was, ‘Here, paint this bowl of fruit,’ and it never struck me as anything interesting,” Warren says. “When I saw Dalí I thought, ‘Look at the possibilities you can do with art.’”
The self-taught artist grew up in California, where sunny beaches, Disney, and the music of the Beatles and the Beach Boys inspired his desire to entertain others. If viewers react to or are amused by his surreal art, then he considers it successful.
“I’m just trying to entertain, which is hard to do as an artist because you think of art as decorating,” Warren says. “But I try to put a little more into it, like a conversation piece, where it brightens them up, makes them think there are more than necessities in the world, there are things you can do for fun.”
Admission to the gallery is complimentary, but RSVP is required. To RSVP for the opening reception, email RSVP@parkwestgallery.com or fill out the RSVP form. For more information, call (800) 521-9654 ext. 4.
The exhibition ends April 21. Park West Gallery is located at 29469 Northwestern Highway in Southfield, Michigan.
