Rene Gagnon 🇺🇸 Graffiti Art • Painting • Art For Sale

[Deleted]

Lichtenstein very famous and big name in art world for plagiarising comic art by a living artist.

Because Lichtenstein was sold by big galleries to mega rich poncy pretentious types and sold through Suchballs auction house etc and curators and acedemics said it was important.

Lichtenstein is considered one of the big names in art but nobody knows or gives afuck about the original artist that Lichtenstein ripped off.

Same goes for Whorehol

and others like Koons Hirst etc.

They are the big names but the people they ripped off are losers,

and a lot of people can't see the art produced by these big names for what it is. Mainly junk

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2014 0:43:09 GMT 1 @martedanielsen said:

Rene Gagnon Nuart 07

Rene Gagnon 07

Rene Gagnon 07

From Nuart 2007, fresh at the time. .

The regression since is quite quite quite sad

But I guess he's made more money? (So it's all okay?)

[sgolby]

Oct 16, 2014 0:51:13 GMT 1 @badrobot said:

Oct 16, 2014 0:43:09 GMT 1 @martedanielsen said:

Rene Gagnon Nuart 07

Rene Gagnon 07

Rene Gagnon 07

From Nuart 2007, fresh at the time. .

The regression since is quite quite quite sad

But I guess he's made more money? (So it's all okay?)

Regression... great word choice.  The last image in @martedanielsen's set is really strong, but since then, regression...

[Deleted]

Oct 15, 2014 21:48:31 GMT 1 @federationofideas said:

Oct 15, 2014 21:40:53 GMT 1 graffuturism said:

Even if he was here first you would think he would have progressed that style into something else. I in no way saying he copied anyone, but still all his work looks familiar in a bad way for me. Nothing stands out as being new or progressive even in the genre. But its not just him I feel the same way about many of these artists.

very valid point.  maybe he got jealous that others who were copying him were getting paid and decided to finally make some $$?  not sure.  but I have seen lots of pieces that are in different styles - not just "Banksy-esque" stencils

 Maybe he did get annoyed that Banksy took his image of the praying boy and got a lot of mileage out of it?

 Showing lack of respect to Gagnon.

 Was Banksy taking well known images and re using them with his name on them in order to make a name for himself as "the street artist" at any cost?

   Banksy is highly overrated and over hyped anyway and makes quirky images with some clever punch lines.

  One of Banksy's famous quotes is : "I give away thousands of paintings for free."

www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-story-behind-banksy-4310304/?no-ist=&page=2

 

No he doesn't.

He lets people download images from his site for free. That is not giving away paintings.

More double talk from team Banksy or playing with words.

With a PR team and some consultancy I'm sure Gagnon could be more saleable to champagne socialists.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2014 0:47:16 GMT 1 @elviswarhol said:

Lichtenstein very famous and big name in art world for plagiarising comic art by a living artist.

Because Lichtenstein was sold by big galleries to mega rich poncy pretentious types and sold through Suchballs auction house etc and curators and acedemics said it was important.

Lichtenstein is considered one of the big names in art but nobody knows or gives af**k about the original artist that Lichtenstein ripped off.

Same goes for Whorehol

and others like Koons Hirst etc.

They are the big names but the people they ripped off are losers,

and a lot of people can't see the art produced by these big names for what it is. Mainly junk

but surely Lichenstein and others tapped into something that had a broader appeal than the people they borrowed from?  How come the people Lichtenstein, Banksy etc borrowed from never received the same popularity?  It can't all be PR.  A lot of artists are hyped, but they don't all succeed at the same level (Plastic Jesus, Bambi, to name a couple recent examples).  Their work has to resonate with a broad group to turn into popularity and financial success.  I don't think there's any one answer, otherwise there would be a lot more people at the top of the food chain

good PR can expose you to a wider audience, but that doesn't necessarily translate into popularity or admiration

[russkov]

3 words:
very nice indeed
Plagiarist like others
plagiarist of plagiarist
plagiarized by plagiarists
Street talent indeed
needs decent respect
Is this art?

[bonesy]

3 full pages and not one mention of his large abstract canvas's. The most complimented piece hanging in my house is a 5' x 3' canvas of Rene's. Three different rooms in my house have large canvas's of his, I've given him more wall space than any other artist.

Most artist's raw abstract spray paint skills don't translate well to an canvas meant to be hung on the wall, Rene makes it work. Take the time to go past the print section on his website and check out the archive of canvas's, there is some incredible work there through the years. I live within a couple hours of his studio and am fortunate to be able to go purchase canvas's in person but he can also ship these unstretched.

Lastly, I'll add how fucking awesome and friendly the guy is.

[bonesy]

Teacher To All

[barryh]

Loved his work back in 07, he just really hasn't seemed to progress. Regards 'copying' ideas, I think its fair game if you can improve on what you are referencing.. if not it just feels a bit like coat tail grabbing

[Deleted]

Oct 15, 2014 22:10:16 GMT 1 @federationofideas said:

Yeah, this could very well be true. The same can be said about Blek (and others) he was one of the first, but people have surpassed his skill (- open for debate) and now someone who didn't know better would say he's copying Banksy.

Do they really copy?, or is it merely influence?



Im sure Rene is lovely, as im sure Banksy and Blek are, the fkin Borrowers.

[tommyb]

I probably missed a piece by one of them but who ripped off the Nike of Samothrace?

Also I like Renes work, I find it cheap and cheerful, some bits are questionable sure, but he has produced a few gems also.

[balibob]

He is French.

[My Name is Frank]

Oct 16, 2014 1:17:38 GMT 1 @elviswarhol said:

Oct 15, 2014 21:48:31 GMT 1 @federationofideas said:

very valid point.  maybe he got jealous that others who were copying him were getting paid and decided to finally make some $$?  not sure.  but I have seen lots of pieces that are in different styles - not just "Banksy-esque" stencils

 Maybe he did get annoyed that Banksy took his image of the praying boy and got a lot of mileage out of it?

 Showing lack of respect to Gagnon.

 Was Banksy taking well known images and re using them with his name on them in order to make a name for himself as "the street artist" at any cost?

   Banksy is highly overrated and over hyped anyway and makes quirky images with some clever punch lines.

  One of Banksy's famous quotes is : "I give away thousands of paintings for free."

www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-story-behind-banksy-4310304/?no-ist=&page=2

 

No he doesn't.

He lets people download images from his site for free. That is not giving away paintings.

More double talk from team Banksy or playing with words.

With a PR team and some consultancy I'm sure Gagnon could be more saleable to champagne socialists.

I think he might have been talking about painted works on walls Ploppi

[sipps]

"post-graffitti abstract expressionalism" - how he describes his work.

simple, strong, and colorful (my words). I love RG's work, we went to his last solo show in nyc and it was mind blowing. his jagged tears og is my one of my favorite pieces of art period.

[balibob]

Doesn't look like a lot of peeps have grasped the concept of 'in 3 words'.

[Happy Shopper]

Stupid. Thread.

2 words.

[Deleted]

conversation started strong

downhill ever since

[Deleted]

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2014 12:21:14 GMT 1 My Name is Frank said:

Oct 16, 2014 1:17:38 GMT 1 @elviswarhol said:

 Maybe he did get annoyed that Banksy took his image of the praying boy and got a lot of mileage out of it?

 Showing lack of respect to Gagnon.

 Was Banksy taking well known images and re using them with his name on them in order to make a name for himself as "the street artist" at any cost?

   Banksy is highly overrated and over hyped anyway and makes quirky images with some clever punch lines.

  One of Banksy's famous quotes is : "I give away thousands of paintings for free."

www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-story-behind-banksy-4310304/?no-ist=&page=2

 

No he doesn't.

He lets people download images from his site for free. That is not giving away paintings.

More double talk from team Banksy or playing with words.

With a PR team and some consultancy I'm sure Gagnon could be more saleable to champagne socialists.

I think he might have been talking about painted works on walls Ploppi

He wasn't referring to his stencils on walls on streets outside.

     It's a good excuse for any graffiti vandal though.

No officer i'm not a vandal I was just giving away a painting.

  

[Deleted]

Definitely Not Banksy

[Deleted]

posted this over in the Nick Walker thread.  One of his images from his new show



reminds me of Rene Gagnon's



but better executed


(not saying he copied him. Just similar idea that reminded me of Gagnon's)

[thisisanton]

Wash, rinse, repeat

[whl10]

better than whatson

[WOOF]

Don't 100% love either, but that's some nice shading on walker's guy's shirt

[graffuturism]

Oct 17, 2014 3:15:49 GMT 1 @federationofideas said:

posted this over in the Nick Walker thread.  One of his images from his new show



reminds me of Rene Gagnon's



but better executed


(not saying he copied him. Just similar idea that reminded me of Gagnon's)

You guys and too forgiving, maybe artists that continue to recycle other images from there peers without being called out on it only enables the status quo. People need to be called out on these things, it's not subjective or cool. Using pop art as an influence is one thing taking from a peer is disrespect.

[russkov]

I'm sure some artist would take banksy's stuff and would redraw it better, stating de facto that Banksy is "has been"
3 words again:
Egg or chicken?

[lucky7]

The Real Thing.
All art is not created the same, so some of the stuff said against him here doesn't really apply.
He is an important figure in this movement.
I put my money where my mouth (fingertips) is and just bought a piece from him! This thread made me look again.
There is no such thing as bad publicity.

[russkov]

Just bought one
my first piece also. No disappointment.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2014 9:52:00 GMT 1 @wizbong said:

Oct 15, 2014 22:10:16 GMT 1 @federationofideas said:

Yeah, this could very well be true. The same can be said about Blek (and others) he was one of the first, but people have surpassed his skill (- open for debate) and now someone who didn't know better would say he's copying Banksy.

Do they really copy?, or is it merely influence?



Im sure Rene is lovely, as im sure Banksy and Blek are, the fkin Borrowers.

“I invented nothing new. I simply assembled the discoveries of other men behind whom were centuries of work. Had I worked fifty or ten or even five years before, I would have failed. So it is with every new thing. Progress happens when all the factors that make for it are ready, and then it is inevitable. To teach that a comparatively few men are responsible for the greatest forward steps of mankind is the worst sort of nonsense.”  H̶e̶n̶r̶y̶ ̶F̶o̶r̶d̶  Gonefellow 

[thriftypix]

"The Giver From Fall River."

For me, Rene's work has been up and down. Lately, his stuff hasn't done as much for me (even so, I've purchased a couple of his things in the past year), but I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before it does again. The ups have been way up. I honestly think of them as classics. His "Campbell's Graffiti Soup" is iconic and light years better in conception and execution than alternates from "other" artists. If you compare his print to MBW's, well, there simply is no comparison. Just because his work has not been sold and talked up by the "cognoscenti" in the same way as other's takes nothing away from Rene. Not if you care first about the work. If you care more about what the market likes, well, then that's another much sadder conversation.

Also: the printing on Rene's hand-pulled silkscreens is top-notch. Mind blowingly well done. He's a super-talented printer, which for me counts for a lot. An artist who hand pulls his own prints! Imagine that. And the paper he uses is absolutely beautiful.

Finally: one thing about Rene that people don't often mention, and that admittedly has nothing to do with his art, is how generous he is. I'll just leave it at that, except to say that the guy has real heart. Rene is an artist that I want to pull for, who I like to support. And for me that also counts for a lot.