Chuck Sperry

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January 15, 2014 By squirt

Edwardian Ball 2014 at The Regency Poster

EDWARDIAN-BALL-2014-WEB

Edwardian Ball 2014 at The Regency
Two-sheet Silkscreen Poster
20 x 58
Edition of 125
Each part is 3 colors on archival cream paper
Signed and Numbered (matched numbers top and bottom)

Sold Out – Thank You!

___________

I had a lot of fun making this design, and it’s always a pleasure to work with Justin Katz, Edwardian Ball impresario!

This two-sheet poster is a match to my 2011 Edwardian Ball poster, so now there are 2 times, two-sheets for this remarkable, annual event. Two-sheet posters were used for public advertising in Edwardian times, so it’s fun (and ever so appropriate) for me to revisit this format.

THE EDWARDIAN BALL is an elegant and whimsical celebration of art, music, theatre, fashion, technology, circus, and the beloved creations of the late, great author Edward Gorey. Set in Edwardian times, this multi-media festival has grown over the past decade from a small underground club night into an internationally recognized event, even earning the blessing of The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust.

Costumed and enthusiastic attendees, traveling from as far as Australia, Japan, and the UK, flock to this San Francisco tradition for a delightful blend of ballroom dancing, live music, riveting stage shows, DJs, fine art galleries, a vending marketplace, absinthe cocktails, steam machinery, parlour games, sideshows, and more. All ages are welcome and appropriate in this darkly humorous and elegant setting, where literary aficionados rub elbows with insect-like creatures parading on stilts where historically-accurate Edwardian recreationists waltz by a steam-powered tea garden where the only guiding rule is that you join in on the fun!

The Edwardian Ball has been called the quintessential must-not-miss event of the year, a defining annual San Francisco tradition, and literary circus of the highest caliber for good reason, come see for yourself!

Filed Under: Art Prints, Events, News, Rock Posters Tagged With: Edwardian Ball, The Regency

January 9, 2014 By squirt

PangeaSeed Presents: HOME – A Fine Art Print Suite for Threatened Ocean Habitats

This year, I will be participating in PangeaSeed’s 2014 print suite entitled, “HOME: A Fine Art Print Suite for Threatened Ocean Habitats.”

pangeaseed-home

For 2014, PangeaSeed is pleased to announce HOME: A Fine Art Print Suite for Threatened Ocean Habitats. Drawing from the concept and success of Sea of Change, our 2013 print suite project focusing on endangered oceans animals, HOME aims to address and raise greatly needed awareness for threatened ocean habitats.

Highlighted ocean habitats will include coral reefs, open ocean, deep sea, hydrothermal vents, the Southern Ocean, sea mounts, kelp forests, sea grass beds, estuaries, sea shores, mangroves and salt marshes.

Featuring new original artworks from 14 of today’s top and most sough-after contemporary artists including Curiot, Kozyndan, Chuck Sperry, Nosego, Munk One, James Eads, Dabsmyla, Dan Mumford, James Flames, Max Dalton, Joshua Budich, Craig Drake, Tim Doyle and Marko Manev – together we aim to save our seas through the power of art and imagination.

For collectors who already know they want the entire HOME suite of 14 prints, they are offering 35 complete, matched-numbered sets for sale for a limited time. Recipients will not only receive all 14 of the amazing fine art prints created for HOME, PangeaSeed is also including a very special free print created specifically for the project by a guest supporting artist that will only be available to subscribers of the print suite. All complete suite purchases will be shipped out on a quarterly basis during 2014, as the prints get released.
Complete set on sale now HERE.

Filed Under: Art Prints, News Tagged With: Chuck Sperry, Craig Drake, Curiot, Dabsmyla, Dan Mumford, James Eads, James Flames, Joshua Budich, Kozyndan, Marko Manev, Max Dalton, Munk One, Nosego, PangeaSeed, Tim Doyle

January 6, 2014 By squirt

“The Pornographer’s Daughter”

Chuck-and-Liberty
Chuck Sperry and Liberty Bradford Mitchell meeting at Sperry’s studio, Hangar 18, in Oakland, California

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (6 January, 2014) – Renowned rock art illustrator Chuck Sperry has designed an original poster for the World Premiere of Liberty Bradford Mitchell’s THE PORNOGRAPHER’S DAUGHTER.  In this edgy slice of San Francisco history, Mitchell tells the story of growing up on the fringes of an X-rated world as the daughter of notorious pornography pioneer Artie Mitchell.  Sperry, famed for his rock art illustrations and posters for dozens of artists including Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Gogol Bordello, Bob Dylan, The Black Keys, Widespread Panic, and Nick Cave, has created a one-of-a-kind graphic based on a photo of Mitchell taken by photographer Gary Bossier when she was 16 years old, during a shoot coordinated by her father’s then-girlfriend (and O’Farrell Theatre performer) Missy Manners.  THE PORNOGRAPHER’S DAUGHTER plays January 17 – February 16, 2014, at Z Below, 470 Florida St in San Francisco.  Press opening is 8pm Wednesday, January 22.  For tickets ($32), the public may visit www.PDtheplay.com.

PORNOGRAPHER-WEB-THREE

“I’m thrilled to be involved in this project,” said Sperry.  “Liberty’s story is fascinating to those who know the story of the Mitchell brothers as well as those who don’t, and I’m excited to be part of this fantastic collaboration.”  One of the few remaining contemporary poster artists who silkscreens all of his prints by hand, Sperry will make a very limited release of the hand screened edition of this poster on his website, www.chucksperry.net on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at a random time, to coincide with the world premier weekend of THE PORNOGRAPHER’S DAUGHTER.

Chuck Sperry lives in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, where he’s been creating his particular style of rock poster designs for over 15 years.  His work has been exhibited at leading San Francisco art institutions including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, as well as internationally from Athens to Argentina, Bristol to Belgrade – most recently featured in the three week Italian tour of The Flowers of Popular Victories exhibition.  With prints archived by the Achenbach Graphics Arts Council, San Francisco Public Library, United States Library of Congress, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and artistry featured in projects for Virgin Megastore, Guitar Center, Random House, Harvard University Press, Nylon, Wired, and more, Sperry has established a unique style of rock poster art that has earned him worldwide recognition and praise.  He has been featured in documentaries for film and television in the United States, Europe, and Australia, including the 2009 documentary film “American Artifact.”

Notorious for entertaining a stream of celebrities, politicians, and artists at their XXX movie theatre and strip club, The Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell Theatre, Artie and Jim Mitchell capitalized on the “free love” movement of the 1970s. Their “Behind the Green Door,” one of the first feature-length porn films ever made, earned a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival and sparked a new wave of adult entertainment.  The party ended in February 1991 when Jim shot and killed Artie.  In THE PORNOGRAPHER’S DAUGHTER, Artie’s eldest child Liberty Bradford Mitchell recounts this unique slice of San Francisco history with a first-hand perspective, from her counter-culture beginnings, growing up and coming of age in the wings of the porn industry, through surviving the surreal aftermath of her father’s murder at the hands of her uncle Jim.  Joining Mitchell on stage will be San Francisco rock band The Fluffers, providing a driving soundtrack of music from the ‘60s to the ‘80s and beyond.

“The Pornographer’s Daughter”

Written and Performed by Liberty Bradford Mitchell

Directed by Michael T. Weiss

January 17 – February 16, 2014

Press Night: 8pm Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Previews: January 17-19 (no preview 10:30pm Fri, Jan 17)

Shows: Thursdays: 8:00pm • Fridays and Saturdays: 8:00pm, 10:30pm • Sundays: 5:00pm

 Z Below, 470 Florida St, San Francisco, CA 94110

 TICKETS: $32 (general admission)

For information or to order tickets visit www.PDtheplay.com.

Filed Under: Art Prints, News Tagged With: Artie Mitchell, Behind the Green Door, Jim Mitchell, Liberty Bradford Mitchell, Michael T. Weiss, O'Farrell Theatre, The Fluffers, The Mitchell Brothers, The Pornographer's Daughter, Z Below, Z Space

November 25, 2013 By squirt

“Kissing The Girl From Jupiter” Variant Release Information

With the closing of Spoke Art’s wildly successful art show “Bad Dads, an art show tribute to the films of Wes Anderson,” I am releasing the variant editions of my art print inspired by the Wes Anderson movie Moonrise Kingdom. The regular edition of 50 sold out through Spoke Art, and is not available. Best of luck to Ken Harman and the talented Spoke Art artists, and crew heading to Miami to exhibit during Art Basel Miami at Scope Art Fair!

I am making a very limited release of my variant editions of “Kissing the Girl From Jupiter” on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at a random time.

KISIING-THE-GIRL-FROM-JUPITER-GOLD

Kissing The Girl From Jupiter
33 x 22
Gold Edition of 12
7 colors on gold metallic paper
Signed and Numbered

Sold Out – Thank You!

____________________

KISSING-THE-GIRL-FROM-JUPITER-BRONZE

Kissing The Girl From Jupiter
33 x 22
Bronze Edition of 12
7 colors on bronze metallic paper
Signed and Numbered

Sold Out – Thank You!

____________________

KISSING-THE-GIRL-FROM-JUPITER-OPAL

Kissing The Girl From Jupiter
33 x 22
Opal Edition of 12
7 colors on opal metallic paper
Signed and Numbered

Sold Out – Thank You!

____________________

Filed Under: Art Prints Tagged With: Art Basel, Moonrise Kingdom, Scope Art Fair, Spoke Art, Wes Anderson

October 29, 2013 By squirt

“Kissing The Girl From Jupiter” for Spoke Art’s Exhibition Tribute to Wes Anderson

KISSING-THE-GIRL-FROM-JUPITER

Kissing The Girl From Jupiter
33 x 22
Edition of 50
7 colors on archival cream paper
Signed and Numbered

KISIING-THE-GIRL-FROM-JUPITER-GOLD

Kissing The Girl From Jupiter
33 x 22
Gold Edition of 12
7 colors on gold metallic paper
Signed and Numbered

KISSING-THE-GIRL-FROM-JUPITER-BRONZE

Kissing The Girl From Jupiter
33 x 22
Bronze Edition of 12
7 colors on bronze metallic paper
Signed and Numbered

KISSING-THE-GIRL-FROM-JUPITER-OPAL

Kissing The Girl From Jupiter
33 x 22
Opal Edition of 12
7 colors on opal metallic paper
Signed and Numbered

________________

I’m happy to reveal my new print for Spoke Art’s “Bad Dads, an art show tribute to the films of Wes Anderson.” Below is information regarding the Spoke Art’s show, and below that, my inspiration for creating the print.

Spoke Art is proud to present:
Bad Dads: an art show tribute to the films of Wes Anderson

Friday, November 1st
Halloween costume party at the gallery
All ages, no cover, 6pm – 10pm

Saturday, November 2nd
Halloween costume party at the gallery
All ages, no cover, 6pm – 10pm

Sunday, November 3rd
Castro Theatre triple feature
Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom
screening starts at 5pm
prints from the show will be available for purchase

Learn more or RSVP via Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/535301666558420/ 

Monday, November 4th
All remaining original works and limited edition prints made available online
3pm PST (approximate)
http://spoke-art.com

I have become a huge fan of Moonrise Kingdom, having watched this movie many times.

Last year, I was in constant flight making shows and appearances non-stop; I watched Moonrise Kingdom end to end over a dozen times. These were long flights, whiled away happily involved in Mr. Anderson’s world of Moonrise Kingdom. I have a policy: I would rather watch one excellent movie over and over than to watch one bad movie once.

I flew in my own Moonrise Kingdom from the US to Europe, Europe to the US. Then I watched it some more, 17 hours San Francisco to Argentina for my appearance at the Trimarchi Design Conference and back again 17 hours. Then I watched it yet more from San Francisco to New York City just in time for my ill-fated Moonalice Art Show at the Brooklyn Bowl during Hurricane Sandy with the stars of the San Francisco Rock Poster Tradition (Stanley Mouse and Wes Wilson no less). By the time Halloween ruffled Manhattan the day after the historic hurricane passed, and I strolled to the Neue Museum on East 88th to catch some Vienna Secession art work, passing adorable children in their Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating on the Upper East Side, I was experiencing the pathos of a festival celebrated on the wake of disaster with a mind which had deeply ingested massive doses of Wes Anderson’s tragic serio-comic sensibilities. Strange it was just a year ago. Stranger still, the feeling of having absorbed this movie into one of the busiest and most rewarding and odd periods of my life hasn’t passed.

My art print “Kissing The Girl From Jupiter” for “Bad Dads” is a celebration of the amazing screen chemistry, the romantic pairing of actors Kara Hayward and Jared Gilman who play Suzy Bishop and Sam Shakusky in Moonrise Kingdom. Characters Sam and Suzy are mis-matched lovers caught in a doomed fantasy. Their star-crossed love story takes bloom with a first kiss in their Moonrise Kingdom. I aim to contrast the realism of my portrayal of their figures to a fantastic, near psychedelic background depicting a romantic, emotional truth of first love. It’s a very innocent piece. The title “Kissing the Girl From Jupiter” refers to the title of a science-fiction fantasy book that Suzy has brought with her in her flight to Moonrise Kingdom, one which was featured in the animated short film Wes Anderson made to promote the release of Moonrise Kingdom (see below).

Filed Under: Art Prints, Events Tagged With: Bad Dads, Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Moonrise Kingdom, Spoke Art, Wes Anderson

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Latest News

  • Chuck Sperry Shows at CONTEXT / Art Basel with Harman Projects
  • “Chuck Sperry: Exposed!” Art Show in Torino Italy October 31
  • Legends Gather at TRPS Festival of Posters 2025
  • Cooper Hewitt Opens “Art of Noise” December 12 • Sperry On View
  • Widespread Panic Richmond “Juno” Poster Wins Award

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About 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. Learn More…

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

Latest Blog Posts

  • Chuck Sperry Shows at CONTEXT / Art Basel with Harman Projects
  • “Chuck Sperry: Exposed!” Art Show in Torino Italy October 31
  • Legends Gather at TRPS Festival of Posters 2025
  • Cooper Hewitt Opens “Art of Noise” December 12 • Sperry On View
  • Widespread Panic Richmond “Juno” Poster Wins Award

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