Low Brow artists in major musuems?

[sleepboy]

So, been having a "discussion" with someone named "Street Art" on facebook (who may very well read this forum). He asked a question as to if there were any so called "low brow" artists who have exhibited in major museums like Whitney, LA MOCA and MOMA, Guggenheim, etc. I gave him an answer but was curious as to if anyone knew any examples of who and where? I would be the first to admit that I'm not an expert in this subject.

[epicfai]

James Jean -

2008
Just In: Recent Acquisitions from the Collection, Leonard Dobbs Gallery, Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY

[sleepboy]

Thanks epic, I'll have to add that to the list.

What I have is:

Robert Williams - Whitney
Robert Crumb - MOCA
Camille Rose Garcia - LACMA

Ryden, Baseman, Biskup have been part of countless associated activities at the LACMA, MOCA although I'm not sure they are part of the permanent collection or if they have even shown there.

[virtu]

Urban Superstars was a group show at the Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donna Regina (M.A.D.RE).

MADRE and Napoli COMICON present Urban Superstar Show Festival, first edition of the first Festival that a Contemporary Art Museum dedicates in Europe to Underground Art, Pop Surrealism, Lowbrow Art and Urban Art,

ARTISTS
Amy Sol, Anthony Ausgang, Alberto Corradi, AlePOP, Alessandro Rak, Prof. Bad Trip, (Gianluca Lerici), Basil Wolverton, Bigfoot, Blu, Boris Hoppek, Brendan Danielsson, Buff Monster, Camilla D’Errico, Camilla Falsini, Catalina Estrada, Cesko, Charles Burns, Ciou, Daniel Clowes, Dave Cooper, Dave McKean, DEM, Diavù (David Vecchiato), Fidia, Francesca Ghermandi, Gary Baseman, Gary Taxali, Gianluca Costantini, Gilbert Shelton, Gio Pistone, Glenn Barr, Hitnes, Ian Stevenson, Jamie Hewlett, Jeremy Fish, Jim Avignon, Joe Ledbetter, Jon Burgerman, Laurina Paperina, Licia Viero, Lina Hoven, Lisa Petrucci, Marco About, Massimo Giacon, Matti Hagelberg, Michael Sieben, Mike Davis, Mr. Wany, Paper Resistance, Paul Chatem, Ray Caesar, Robert Crumb, Scarful, Sergio Mora, Shag, Squaz, Tara McPherson, Tokidoki (Simone Legno), Victor Castillo, Zelda Bomba, Zoe Lacchei.

www.museomadre.it/eventi_show.cfm?id=73

[sleepboy]

Thanks Tom. But I was looking for "major" museums - whatever that means.

[virtu]

Yeah I know but thought it was worth mentioning.

[sleepboy]

Jul 24, 2010 8:40:18 GMT -8 virtu said:

Yeah I know but thought it was worth mentioning.

cool. yah, there are plenty of others of course, but just looking for so-called major institutions with budgets in the millions and billions.

[lowpro]

Have that many more "street" artists been embraced by the majors? I think the exact same argument could be redirected back at contemporary street art as well. I'd wager there might be same amount (or less?) of street artists that have not only had regional museum exhibitions, but that have been exhibited at or are in permanent collections of the major institutions. I'm far from a true scholar of either movement. And despite appreciating a select handful from each genre, I certainly have my own personal issues with both, which unfortunately only seem to be increasing with time. Ultimately, both are so reasonably young, if not around the same age, I don't think a strong enough argument could be made for either being more "important" by the measure of major museum acceptance than the other at this current moment in time. They're both riddled with derivative, boring, bad art. Yet there are glimpses of groundbreaking genius in each as well. Art from each movement will certainly pass the test of time. So, while discussion is healthy and necessary, definitively arguing such matters in the moment is trivial..and one should try collect the artists that resonate with them in some meaningful way not that has an impressive resume.

[oldfartatplay]

Robert Williams was a major part of a ground breaking exhibit at MOCA in LA way back in the early 90s. Looking at the show catalogue right now and count 33 of his paintings in that show.
Helter Skelter: LA Art in the 1990s. I saw it and have been hooked ever since.
Here's a link.
www.moca.org/library/archive/exhibition/detail/3374

note: These artists may or may not be considered "lowbrow" but Raymond Pettibon, Llyn Foulkes, Lari Pittman, Manuel Ocampo and Jim Shaw also had many pieces in that show as well.