23 Impressive Rex Ray Facts: Meet The Man Behind Modern Art And Design
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Did you know that Rex Ray liked working on multiple projects at the same time, which gave him creative freedom to adapt things from one picture into another one and connect them on a deeper level?
Also, while naming his art pieces, Rex Ray usually made word collages, like combining Latin names of plants with random pharmaceuticals. When it comes to modern artwork and designs, the most popular and common name that comes up is that of the legendary Rex Ray.
He was an American artist who was best known for commercial arts on wood panels, canvases, album covers, book jackets, papers, murals, rock & roll posters and was popular for his innovative pop aesthetic in fine arts. His creative process was very unique and adapted to modern artworks and graphics.
His creative eye has blessed the cover designs of famous superstars like Patti Smith, The Rolling Stones, R.E.M., U2, Beck, Bjork, and David Bowie.
Let’s explore some fewer known facts about the revolutionary artist Rex Ray!
The Life History Of Rex Ray
Rex Ray was born in Landstuhl, Germany in 1956. He was raised in Colorado Springs and was named Michael Patterson.
Mr. Ray moved to San Francisco in 1981 to attend the San Francisco Art Institute where he received his BFA in 1989. He was inspired by Andy Warhol and adopted the moniker ‘Rex Ray’ to start anew.
In the early '90s, he started with professional fine art practice. He was one of the first artists who used Mac computer-based technology in creating his art.
There are some artworks of him which are preserved in museums like the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, the San Jose Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
What Rex Ray is known for?
Rex Ray is popularly known for his creative and out-of-the-world pop aesthetic in fine and commercial art.
This incredible man worked on a wide range of canvases like wood panels, album covers, book jackets, murals, papers, rock and roll posters, and much more.
He is also popular for his complicated technique of artwork in his abstract patterns and graphics.
What Rex Ray is known for is his modern and abstract art. He has exhibited his work in galleries all over the world, and his pieces are highly sought after by collectors.
Rex Ray Award Nominations
Rex Ray was nominated for a prestigious award in 2006 and 2007.
Ray was nominated for the Lambda Literary Award for Transgender, which is an annual literary award that awards books with transgender content.
The nomination process is highly competitive, as it honors only the best of the best in art and design.
Ray was recognized for his unique and innovative approach to modern art and design, which has had a profound impact on the industry.
Rex Ray Modern Art Facts
Ray worked in the music industry, thus, he liked playing new records while making his artworks.
He used small-sized wood panels to collage papers with his art and applied epoxy resin to his finished works.
Also, he created larger art pieces that started with a canvas and stretched over a wooden crane, applied with acrylic paints.
Ray's work has been featured in galleries and museums all over the world. The San Francisco Museum and Berkeley Art Museum houses someof his major designs.
Did You Know...
Rex Ray was his on-stage name, his real name was Michael Patterson. He was raised in Colorado Springs where he started working on contemporary art and graphics.
The San Francisco art institute is a world-renowned art school that has been training artists since 18. It is home to an impressive collection of his work.
The art institute is not the only place where you can find his work. His pieces are also on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Brooklyn Museum, among others.
His work has been exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Rex Ray's work featured in the Museum of Modern Art includes 'Luminous Flux' and 'Threshold'.
Ray has one of the most popular works called 'The Guardian' at the Crocker Art Museum. This piece is a large-scale installation that is made up of metal and glass. It was created in 2010 and is currently on display at the Crocker Art Museum.
Ray was a very popular artist, and his work has been shown in many different museums all over the world. Some of his most popular work was displayed at the Akron Art Museum, where he had a solo exhibition in 2009.
One of Rex Ray's most popular works is 'Luminous Intersection', which is currently on display at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas.
Ray recalled that David Bowie was always willing to help out other artists, no matter how famous he was. David Bowie expressed his deep sadness and how it was a loss for the contemporary art industry after the death of Ray.
His work was popularized in the San Jose Museum of Art. Some of his most famous works include the mural 'Cosmic Flower' and a series of paintings known as the 'Electric Paintings' in the San Jose Museum.
Sony Music released a posthumous album of Rex Ray's work, entitled 'Rayge'. The album by Sony Music was released on the first anniversary of Rex Ray's death and includes a booklet of essays about the artist by friends, family, and collaborators.
Ray's contribution to decorative arts and contemporary art forms is unmatched. The graphics used in his drawings, the design work presented in Bay Area's art forms, and his decorative art choices are still seen as an inspiration by many.
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Sources
http://artsandculturetx.com/the-colorful-world-of-artist-rex-ray/
https://thatcreativefeeling.com/rex-ray-modern-modernist/
https://www.kqed.org/arts/10379517/finding-beauty-along-the-edges-remembering-rex-ray-1956-2015
https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2015/feb/23/rex-ray-obituary
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics
Martha MartinsBachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics
Martha is a full-time creative writer, content strategist, and aspiring screenwriter who communicates complex thoughts and ideas effectively. She has completed her Bachelor's in Linguistics from Nasarawa State University. As an enthusiast of public relations and communication, Martha is well-prepared to substantially impact your organization as your next content writer and strategist. Her dedication to her craft and commitment to delivering high-quality work enables her to create compelling content that resonates with audiences.
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