Chuck Sperry

Chuck Sperry

Chuck Sperry lives in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, where he’s made his particular style of rock poster designs for over 20 years. He operates Hangar 18, a silkscreen print studio, located in Oakland.

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The Sperry Collectible Card Set • Series 1

I’m very excited to announce the first in a series of premium collectible card sets featuring a curated selection of the most popular rock posters and prints from my extensive archive. 

The Sperry Collectible Card Set was artfully designed by renown art photographer and premium book designer Shaun Roberts, and it was edited by us both. We are thrilled to present this newest collaboration!

The set comes in a gorgeous fire red, smooth, sturdy portfolio fold box with a secure magnetic snap closure. Title and signature is in gold emboss. The inside cover is gloss printed with a beautiful floral pattern over red, as is the black bumper which snugly cradles the deck of poster cards. A red ribbon aids access to the sealed deck of 25 cards.

The cards measure 5.5″ x 8.5″. Each of the 25 collectable cards faithfully present a different classic Sperry poster on the front. On the back of each card are the poster details; surrounding floral decoration is printed in gold and black with a foil stamped signature.

The box comes shrink-wrapped. The cards come cellophane wrapped inside.

Only 1000 were made. Affordably priced at $40.

The Sperry Collectible Card Set, Series 1 will premiere at my solo exhibition at Mirus Gallery Denver presented and curated by Harman Projects on September 30 to October 2. 

I will make a limited online release on October 5, 2022 at a random time between 9 am and 10 am PST.

A live release will follow at TRPS Festival of Posters at the Hall of Flowers in San Francisco on October 15.

 

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“Idyllion, The Art of Chuck Sperry” Book Release Events

Published by Hangar 18
Interview by Steven Heller
Essay by Josef Zimmerman, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Curator of Contemporary Art
Hardback Second Edition of 1500 / “Silver Edition”
Silver embossed cover (comes shrink-wrapped / not signed or numbered / only sign in-person at events)
9 x 12 inches / 136 pages
60+ color illustrations
Printed and bound in the United States
ISBN: 9780998140780

Published by Hangar 18
Interview by Steven Heller
Essay by Josef Zimmerman, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Curator of Contemporary Art
Hardback First Edition of 500 / “Gold Edition”
Gold embossed cover, signed and numbered
9 x 12 inches / 136 pages
60+ color illustrations
Printed and bound in the United States
ISBN: 9780998140766

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Hangar 18 is very pleased to announce the upcoming release schedule of Chuck Sperry’s newest book “Idyllion”, the prolific artist’s fourth book in five years.

“Idyllion, The Art of Chuck Sperry” continues the poetic journey started by Chuck’s previous companion books “Helikon, The Muses of Chuck Sperry” and “Chthoneon, The Art of Chuck Sperry”. 

“Idyllion” collects 29 gorgeously photographed new Sperry screen printed art works paired with the prose or poem — from Hesiod to Maynard James Keenan — that inspired each. 

The reader is also offered insight into Chuck’s latest political poster in support of the Equal Rights Amendment campaign with an extensive interview of Sperry by graphic design legend Steven Heller. The interview — accompanied by beautiful photographs by Shaun Roberts — follows the artist at work from the production process to launching the poster.

“Idyllion” is overflowing with evocative and inspiring new work from one of America’s most popular, outspoken and important contemporary artists.

Book signing events:

Denver

Friday, September 30
Mirus Gallery / Harman Projects
1144 Broadway

San Francisco

Saturday, October 15
The Rock Poster Society
Hall of Flowers, Golden Gate Park

Online sale begins:

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Have a look inside:

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Chuck Sperry Art To Help Register Voters Through Southern US

“Equal Rights, Flower of Democracy”
18 x 24 offset poster

Join us on Women’s Equality Day, August 26th at The Outrage in the nation’s capitol Washington DC from 2 pm to 6 pm. It’s a kick-off party where Vote Equality launches a massive Southern voter drive. In celebration, The Outrage is releasing my new offset, 18 x 24 version of “Equal Rights, Flower of Democracy” poster. It will be available at The Outrage, and throughout the Southern tour from Vote Equality.

The Vote Equality voter drive tour bus is designed by me (layout: Rachel Welsh de Iga). It features my poster design “Equal Rights, Flower of Democracy” at 7 feet tall, filling the back of the tour bus. My intricate flower patterns cover the bus, which is affectionately known as the Notorious RVG. See below:

Vote Equality will tour North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida on the first leg of their tour throughout the Southern US to activate and register voters. A second leg continuing through the South to be announced.

I am incredibly proud to give my art to the design of this legendary election bus on a historical mission in the midterm elections of 2022. It’s my aim to put my art into action: this is a giant tour with an important message of equality. 

The Outrage will be releasing my “Equal Rights, Flower of Democracy” 18 x 24 offset posters at the event on Friday, August 26, 2022, at 2 pm to 6 pm —  and after the party online through their online store. Money raised goes to Vote Equality.

The Outrage
1811 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
 Voter Drive Kick-off Party: Friday, August 26, 2022, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Vote Equality will be distributing my “Equal Rights, Flower of Democracy” 18 x 24 poster on the tour bus at every stop along the tour. Please join Vote Equality along the tour, and get a poster!

2022 SOUTHERN TOUR

September 14th: Greenville, SC and Spartanburg, SC
September 15th: Marietta, GA
September 16th – 18th: Augusta, GA (possibly also Aiken, GA)
September 19th – 20th: Atlanta, GA
September 22nd: Macon, GA and Warner Robins, GA
September 24th: Tallahassee, FL
September 26th – 28th: Savannah, GA
October 4th – 9th: South Carolina
October 10th – 12th: Fayetteville, NC
October 13th: Lumberton, NC
October 14th and 15th: Wilmington, NC
October 17th: Jacksonville, NC
October 18th – 20th: Raleigh, NC and Durham, NC
October 25th: Elon, NC
October 26th: Greensboro, N
October 27th – 28th: Winston Salem, NC

About the poster:

Equality is the flower of democracy. Passing the Equal Rights Amendment—at long last—will be the path to gender equality for our American democracy. I am grateful to be called upon to include my voice in the collective call to bring about gender equality by amending the Constitution with passage of the ERA, and I was quick to reach out to fellow artists to join the call to action. 

Clio is the Muse of history, daughter of memory. I suggest we remember where we came from, how we got here, who we are, and where we are going. History is not only a collection of objective facts; history is also a story. How we organize those objective facts says a lot about who we are, or who we want to be. 

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Chuck Sperry Ticket Info for Denver Solo Art Show

“Idyllion”, a Chuck Sperry solo exhibition

Harman Projects is excited to announce “Idyllion” – the latest solo exhibition by acclaimed contemporary artist and master printer, Chuck Sperry.

Featuring brand new screen printed works on wood panel; a survey of recent gig and political art posters framed by Further Frames of Denver; and brand new oversized blotters produced by BC Blotter Co.

The exhibition will serve also as the world debut of a brand new series of canvas paintings by the artist.

We’ll also be unveiling two new affordable and accessible limited edition items: Chuck’s newest art book, “Idyllion, The Art of Chuck Sperry”; and a brand new series of limited edition collectible card sets.

The artist will be in attendance all weekend long to sign books, cards and meet fans. See you there!

On view: September 30th – October 2nd.

Harman Projects Presents:
“Idyllion” a Chuck Sperry solo exhibition
Hosted by Mirus Gallery
1144 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203

Ticket Sales begin Friday August 19th, quantities will be limited. Harman Projects will send an email with a link to purchase tickets, please be sure to sign up for the email list HERE.

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Sperry Art Shows in France in June and July

 

L’Oeil Ouvert
1 rue Lucien Sampaix
75010 Paris 
Opening Night Reception: June 4, 2022, 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
Exposition from June 4 to June 19, 2022

Art Génération
59 quai Saint Vincent
69001 Lyon
Opening Night Reception: July 2, 2022, 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
Exposition from July 2 to July 17, 2022

Art Génération of Paris and Lyon is pleased to present Chuck Sperry’s next tour — a traveling solo art exposition by San Francisco-based screen print master. 

For his upcoming solo expositions in Paris and Lyon, Chuck will be showing his latest editions on paper, and latest editions on oak panel. 
He will be presenting his new book “Color x Color: The Sperry Poster Archive 1980-2020” at the Lyon show.
Also available: a limited release of archive oak panels, rare test prints and surprises.

American artist Chuck Sperry is known for his ethereal and psychedelically saturated screen prints that draw crowds of dedicated fans around the world. He draws inspiration from graffiti, pop art, Symbolism, Art Nouveau and ukiyo-e. Moving past his early work devoted to subverting the memes of advertising, trash-culture, and comics — he currently imagines a verdant garden of new work tended by his signature shimmering muses, calling this work a “utopian provocation.”

“My current work has much more to do with symmetry and proportion, color and balance. It’s a utopian provocation; while the present era couldn’t be more off balance, more dystopian.  I want my work to provoke meditations and emotional responses to its clear colors, balance and symmetry – to give courage, light and beauty to all of us trapped in an ugly historical moment. I don’t want to fragment my work . . .  not just yet . . . or abstract or dissolve; I think of my work from the last few years as defiant in these dark times. I like to think I give people courage through it. It gives me courage to work on it.”
– Chuck Sperry, Juxtapoz Magazine

Archives

Sperry Books: “Color x Color” • “Helikon” • “Chthoneon”

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