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Barry McGee began his career in the 1980s as a graffiti artist. Since the mid 1990s, however, he has been known for his unique murals and installations displayed in museums around the world. His experience as a street artist remains central to his practice and is reflected in his style, use of materials and the ideas behind his work.

In this work McGee’s trademark icon – a caricatured male figure with a twisted oddball face and sagging eyes – is depicted in common house paint on 70 metal plates. The plates are repurposed typesetting trays; cast-offs of a changing industry, their corroded, oxidised surface expresses their age and obsolescence. The hulking figure painted upon them bears a similarly worn-down appearance. His mouth open, he seems to gesture towards himself as if attempting to express his story.

Details

  • Title: Untitled (man with baseball hat)
  • Creator: Barry McGee
  • Creator Lifespan: 1966
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Birth Place: San Francisco, California, United States of America
  • Date Created: 2000
  • Physical Dimensions: 70 panels: 33.5 x 23.0 x 1.6 cm each panel; 336.0 x 164.0 x 1.6 cm installed
  • Type: Painting
  • Rights: John Kaldor Family Collection © Barry McGee
  • Medium: housepaint on metal, 70 panels
  • Artist Country: United States of America

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