On Gallery row a splashy show of paintings titled Dirty Pretty Things screams out at tourists as they hustle to the theatre just down the strip to catch a production of Phedre.
The Russeck Gallery is featuring about a dozen-or-so unique portraits of - Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Marlon Brando - with a clever twist to them.
The fairly well-known images (some coined from Warhol's well of creativity) are sprinkled with a handful of glittering stardust.
On the promotional blurb, a particularly eye-catching shot of the "Some Like it Hot" star is labelled:
"Double Marilyn"
The whimsical portrait is 62 inches by 96 inches and was crafted on linen (a screen print) in acrylic paint, enamel, and diamond dust.
The artist - Russell Young - resides in Los Angeles and is well-known for his video adventures.
Twenty years ago the British photographer first lent his searing lens to celebrity culture.
The assignment was to capture pop idol George Michael in a publicity still for the album “Faith”.
Soon Russell became renowned for his stylish photographic studies of stand-out musicians such as Morrissey, Springsteen, and Dylan.
In its heyday, Russell directed a hundred music videos for pop culure phenomenon, MTV.
Russell started painting about ten years ago, but was shy about exhibiting his musings.
When Young unveiled - PIG PORTRAITS - the pieces were immediately snapped up by collectors, friends, and business associates.
Today, the talented man is touted as an internationally acclaimed pop artist, who creates larger-than-life silkscreen paintings of images from history and pop culture (such as the ones currently on exhibit at the Russeck Gallery in San Francisco).
“My work is sort of soundtrack to my life, loves, experiences and influences. My method of working is to search, destroy and create. The images of this series have been collected from newspaper cuttings, e-bay, long correspondence with police departments throughout the world or even given by celebrities themselves. The idea to create "anti-celebrity" portraits was probably a reaction to my former career. However, they turned out to be even more beautiful and iconic. There is undeniably this attitude that is very real, in your face, a beauty that is hard to ignore. My art is a sort of soundtrack to my life, loves, experiences and influences. These would be my heroes that are missing from Art History.”
Die-hard fans are undoubtedly aware that Russell is married to actress Finola Hughes.
The loving couple have three children - Dylan, Cash and Sadie - who trot back and forth with their celebrated parents between homes situated in New York and Los Angeles.
The dazzling paintings at the Russeck currently - which would heighten the mood in any tony dining-room in a NYC penthouse suite or Bel Air manse - don't come cheap.
Prices start @ $19,000.00 a pop!
Russeck Gallery
373 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA
415.981.9141
Info: RUSSECKGALLERYSF@YAHOO.COM
James Dean
Russell Young
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