Barry McGee is a San Francisco native whose art is deeply rooted in his hometown. The city’s vibrant subculture of skaters, surfers, and street artists has heavily influenced his work, which often explores marginalized communities and societal outcasts. McGee’s current solo exhibition, “I’m Listening,” at Perrotin in Paris showcases his multidisciplinary practice, drawing from graffiti writing, painting, and printmaking.
As a key figure of the Mission School, McGee is part of a group of artists who emerged from the San Francisco Art Institute in the early 1990s. Alongside artists like Margaret Kilgallen and Ruby Neri, he delves into urban realism, graffiti, American folk art, and “lowbrow” aesthetics with a strong undercurrent of social activism.
In “I’m Listening,” McGee’s work bursts with color, pattern, and texture, as he reimagines everyday objects through sculptures, paintings, prints, and assemblages. Surfboards adorned with geometric patterns and cartoonish faces on collages or glass bottles are just some of the playful yet socially conscious pieces on display.
McGee’s art is a reflection of the current state of the world, focusing on both the negative aspects and the positive innovations that humans create to cope. His expressive and dynamic pieces in the exhibition invite viewers to contemplate the human condition and the world around them.
“I’m Listening” is a celebration of McGee’s unique artistic vision and his ability to merge diverse influences into a cohesive body of work. The exhibition runs until May 24 in Paris, offering a glimpse into the mind of an artist deeply connected to his roots and committed to exploring the complexities of contemporary society.
