Gary Taxali was born in Chandigarh, India and raised in Toronto, Canada. Taxali graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD). His fine artwork has been exhibited in galleries in the United States (Jonathan Levine Gallery (NYC), Yves LaRoche (Montreal), Lazarides (London)) and Europe (Antonio Colombe Gallery) as well as museums such as the Andy Warhol Museum, The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the Contemporary Art Museum in Rome.
His retro stylized art is reminiscent of the 1930s and best described as “reinvented pop art” and rooted from an award winning illustration background. His art has a low brow/high brow appeal. It can be seen in galleries around the world such as Lazarides (London), Jonathan Levine Gallery (NYC), Yves LaRoche (Montreal) and The Andy Warhol Museum.
He has won hundreds of illustration and design awards including a Grammy nomination for his album cover artwork for Aimee Mann’s, “Smilers” in 2009. His work is also seen in magazines and editorials (GQ, Esquire, New York Times, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone etc.), products (such as the Royal Canadian Mint Coins), designer toys (collaboration with Chapters Indigo) and fashion (collaboration with Harry Rosen).
Gary has also served as a juror for The Juno’s (Screening Committee) and has also juried many student and professional competitions including The Society of Illustrators, The National Magazine Awards, The Dallas Society of Visual Communications and 3×3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration. He serves on Canada Post’s Stamp Advisory Committee and is a tenured Professor at OCAD University.
Gary has written a children’s book called, “This Is Silly!” published by Scholastic and he also has two monographs of his work, “I Love You, Ok?” published by TeNeues and “Mono Taxali” published by 279 Editions.In 2005, he launched his first vinyl toy, The Toy Monkey, which included a special edition along with a silkscreen print commissioned by The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. This led Gary to create his own toy company, Chump Toys, which recently saw the release of his OH NO and OH OH vinyl figures. In 2012, The Royal Canadian Mint released a special edition of six Gary Taxali 25¢ coins which, in addition to original art uniquely created for the coins, Taxali also did the typography using his font Chumply. Each coin is stamped bearing his initials.
Aside from his gallery shows and illustration work, Gary also devotes a portion of his time teaching and lecturing at various arts organizations and schools such as OCAD University (Toronto, Canada), The Art Director’s Club of Houston (Houston, USA), Dankmarks Designskole (Copenhagen, Denmark) and Istituto Europeo Di Design (Rome, Italy). He was invited to speak to SKAD in Hong Kong in Dec 2013 and October 2014.
He is a Founding Member of IPA (The Illustrators’ Partnership of America). Gary has also juried many student and professional competitions including The Juno’s (Screening Committee), The Society of Illustrators, The National Magazine Awards, The Dallas Society of Visual Communications and 3×3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration and sits on the Advisory Board of 3×3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration. He lives and works in Toronto.
In 2011, two books of his work were released: Mono Taxali, published by 279 Editions, and I Love You, Ok? published by teNeues. In 2012, the Royal Canadian Mint released a special edition of six 25 cent coins which feature Taxali’s artwork. In 2017, Gary published his new book “Happiness With A Caveat” featuring works from the past few years.
“Gary Taxali visually blends now with then. His style, inspired by vintage comics and advertising art, is repurposed with the goal of communicating the ironies and comical essence of popular culture. His work is at once alluring and endearing. Despite the vintage look, he is neither maudlin nor nostalgic. His imagery is rich in satiric verve.”
– Steven Heller
Gary
See also:
Gary works with his sister, Vandana Taxali of Entcounsel.
CLIENTS
Rolling Stone, GQ, Esquire, Time, Newsweek, Fortune, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Fast Company, Reader’s Digest, Business Week, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Converse, Levi’s, Sony, McSweeny’s, MTV, Coca-Cola
AWARDS
American Illustration, Communication Arts Illustration Annual, Society of Illustrators (Gold Medal), Print, Society of Publication Designers, National Magazine Awards (Gold Medal), Chicago Creative Club, The Advertising and Design Club of Canada, National Gold Addy and Shortlist for a Cannes Lion
LECTURES
- First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2017
- Idea Exchange at Design at Riverside, Cambridge, Canada, 2015
- Revolver Gallery, Toronto, Canada, 2015
- National Institute of Design, Bangalore, India, 2015
- Savannah College of Art and Design – Hong Kong Campus, Hong Kong, 2014
- Artscape Salon, Toronto, Canada, 2014
- Grip Limited Agency, Toronto, Canada, 2014
- Waddington’s Contemporary, Toronto, Canada, 2014
- John St. Agency, Toronto, Canada, 2014
- Hong Kong Society of Illustrators, Hong Kong, 2013
- Design Exchange, Toronto, ON, 2013
- University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, 2013
- United Adworkers, Milwaukee, WI, 2012
- Algonquin College, Ottawa, Canada, 2012
- Pictoplasma Conference, New York City, 2011
- MagNet Conference, Toronto, Canada, 2010
- Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, 2009
- OCAD University, Toronto, Canada, 2009
- Centennial College, Toronto, Canada, 2009
- Sheridan College, Toronto, Canada, 2009
- Merz Akademie, Stuttgart, Germany, 2008
- Istituto Europeo Di Design, Rome, Italy, 2008
- Fachhochschule Mainz, Mainz, Germany, 2008
- Danmarks Designskole, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2007
- School of Visual Arts, New York, NY, 2006
- Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada, 2006
- Dallas Society of Visual Communications – Student Conference, Dallas, TX, 2005
- Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, 2005
- Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 2005
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 2005
- Sheridan College, Toronto, Oakville, Canada, 2004
- Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Canada, 2004
- University of Kansas, MO, 2004
- Art Directors Club of Houston, Houston, TX, 2003
- Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, 2003
- Illustration Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 2003
- Quebec Association of Illustrators, Montreal, QC, 2003
PARTIAL BOOK LIST OF SELECTED WORKS/WRITINGS OF GARY TAXALI
- Hively, Charles, “3X3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration – Vol 1, #”, Charles Hively Publisher, 2003, ISBN 1546-640X
- Hyland, Angus; Bell, Roanne, “Hand to Eye: Contemporary Illustration”, Laurence King Publishing, 2003, ISBN 1-85669-339-2
- Hazelmyer, Tom, “Qeedrophonic”. OX-OP Press, 2004, ISBN 0-9758579-0-8
- Jordan, Matt Dukes, “Weirdo Deluxe”, Chronicle Books, 2005, ISBN 0-8118-4241-X
- Beauchamp, Monte, “BLAB! #16”, Fantagraphics Books, 2005, ISBN 1-56097-683-7
- STRANGEco, “Toys: New Designs from the Art Toy Revolution”, Universe Publishing (Rizzoli), 2005, ISBN 0-7893-1390-1
- Wagner, Lisa; Dalton, Trinie; Horowitz, Eli, “Dear New Girl or Whatever Your Name Is”, McSweeny’s, 2005, ISBN 1-932416-17-X
- Wiedemannm, Julius, “Illustration Now!”, Taschen, 2005. ISBN 3-8228-4033-5
- Hively, Charles; “3×3: The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration” , interview with Henrik Drescher by Gary Taxali, 2007
- Thaler, Peter; Denicke, Lars, “Pictoplasma – The Character Encyclopedia”, Pictoplasma Publishing, 2006, ISBN 3-981-04583-1
- Klanton, Robert; Hübner, Matthias, “Dot Dot Dash – Designer Toys, Action Figures and Art”, Die Gestalten, 2006, ISBN 3-89955-161-3
- Beauchamp, Monte, “BLAB! #17”, Fantagraphics Books, 2006, ISBN 978-1-56097-776-6
- Someguy, “The 1000 Journals Project”, Chronicle Books, 2007, ISBN 0-8118-5856-1
- Pony, Magic, “Fancy Action Now – The Art of Team Macho”, Interview with Team Macho by Gary Taxali, 2007, ISBN 978-0-9783568-0-4
- Brereton, Richard, “Graphic Ha Ha – Issue 11”, BIS Publishers, 2007, ISBN -978-90-6369-164-4
SOLO SHOWS
2016
- “Unfamous: The Art of Gary Taxali”, First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, ON
2015
- “Hotel There”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
- “Here and Now”, Idea Exchange at Design at Riverside, Cambridge, ON
2014
- “Unforget Me”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
- “Shanti Town”, Waddington’s, Toronto, ON
2013
- “Assemblages”, SOHO House, Toronto, ON
2012
- “My Feelings Like You”, The Outsiders (Lazarides), London, UK
- “Selected Works”, Antonio Colombo Gallery, Milano, Italy
2010
- “The Taxali 300”, Narwhal Art Projects, Toronto, ON
2009
- “Hindi Love Song”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
2008
- “Flop House Rules”, Iguapop Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
2007
- “Save The Boreal”, New Print Launch and Show, Magic Pony Gallery, Toronto, ON
- “Last Year’s Winner”, Magic Pony Gallery, Toronto, ON
2006
- “The Up-N-Down Show”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2005
- “Chumpy’s Specials” – OX OP Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
- “Toy Monkey Launch and New Prints” – Magic Pony, Toronto, ON
- “Chumpy’s Night School” – La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2001
- “Sweet Shop Toys, Candies and Books” – CPOP Gallery, Detroit, MI
- “America Lucky Service“ – La Luz de Jesus Gallery
2000
- “New Work” – Anno Domini Gallery, San José, CA
GROUP SHOWS
2018
- “SCOPE New York”, Matthew Namour Gallery, New York, NY
- “Fresh stART”, Arena Gallery 1, Santa Monica, CA
2017
- “Forget What You Know”, Ayzenberg Gallery, Pasadena, LA
- “Wintershow”, Arts Factory Gallery, Paris, France
- “Letters to the Mayor”, EDIT, Toronto, ON
- “Cowboyland”, Heliumcowboy, Hamburg, Germany
- “ArtExpo” New York, Wanroiij Gallery, New York, NY
- “Illustrationen On Ice”, Deutsches Sport and Olimpia Museum, Cologne, Germany
- “Something Strange in the Neighbourhood”, Feinkunst Kruger, Hambur, Germany
- “Welcome to New Jersey”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New Jersey, NY
- “For Goodness Sake”, LA LA Land Gallery, Hollywood, CA
- “Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of High Fructose”, Akron Art Museum, Akron, OH
2016
- “Context Art Miami”, Matthew Namour, Miami, FL
- “Cluster”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
- “Grande Ouverture”, Galerie Matthew Namour, Montreal, QC
- “Greater Toronto: New Artist Textiles” NYCxDESIGN, New York, NY
- “Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of Hi-Fructose”, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA
- “Keep It Together”, Flower Pepper Gallery, Pasadena, LA
- “Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
- “A Decade of Lazarides – 10th Anniversary Group Show”, Lazarides Rathbone, London, UK
- “Illustrators 58”, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
2015
- “The Colour and the Fury – 10 Years of Jonathan LeVine Gallery”, Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, NY
- “Mural Festival”, Yves LaRoche Gallery, Montreal, QC
- “Push Me Pull Me – Pearl Jam Poster Exhibit”, Seattle International Airport, Seattle, WA
- “Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
2014
- “Egregore – The Zenith of Pop Surrealism”, Yves Laroche Gallery, Montreal, QC
- “Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
- “Pictoplasma Portrait Gallery”, Kaufaus Jandorf, Berlin, Germany
2013
- “Good Work: The Illustration Art Invitational”, Arts Center Gallery, Rochester, NY
- “Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
- “Waddington’s Concrete Contemporary Auction”, Waddington’s Auction House, Toronto, ON
- “Wider Than a Postcard”, Group Show, Breezeblock Gallery, Portland, OR
- “NXNE Showcase” SOHO House, Toronto, ON
- “Small Works Project”, 2013 Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
- “Northern Lights”, Rotofugi, Chicago, IL
- “Buddy System Invitational”, Breezeblock Gallery, Portland, OR
2012
- “New Blood”, Thinkspace Gallery, Culver City, CA
- Contemporary Canadian Art , Waddingtons Auction House, Toronto, Ontario
- “Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
- “BLAB WORLD 2012”, Copro Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
- “The Post-It Show Eight”, Giant Robot, Los Angeles, CA
2011
- “Made in Polaroid: 50/50/50”, Phillips de Purys, New York, NY
- “Lucid Dreams”, Noel-Baza Fine Art Gallery, San Diego, CA
- “Bologna Art Fair”, Antonio Colombo Gallery, Bologna, Italy
- “3D Art Book”, Opera Gallery, New York, NY
- American Museum of the Society of Illustrators, Traveling Show 53, New York, NY
- “Lyric, Group Show”, 323 Gallery, Detroit, MI
- “Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
- “La Luz de Jesus 25th Anniversary Show”, Los Angeles, CA
2010
- “Sanrio 50th Anniversary Art Show”, Los Angeles, CA
- “Christmas Group Show”, The Outsiders Gallery, London, UK
- “Project 31”, OCAD University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- “BLAB! A Retrospective”, Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
- “5th year Anniversary Group Exhibition”, Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York, NY
- “monUMENTAL”, Trifecta Gallery, Las Vegas, Nevada
- “Never Judge…?”, Stolen Space Gallery, London, UK
- “Fantasilandia”, Antonio Colombo Arte Contemporanea, Italy
- “A Starter Kit for Collectors: Art Exhibition”, Tribes Gallery, New York, NY
- “Post-It Show”, Giant Robot Gallery, New York, NY
- “The Vader Project”, Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
- “Where Is My Vote?”, Art Institute of Boston, Boston, MA
- “Blow Up”, G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle, WA
- “Picture Mechanics Show”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- “Group Show”, Gallery Nucleus, Pasadena, CA
- “100 Heads for Haiti”, Spur Gallery, Baltimore, MD
- “Small Favours”, Giant Robot Gallery, New York, NY
2009
- “True Self Show”, Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York, NY
- “Group Show”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- “Beautiful Decay A-Z Exhibition”, Kopeikin Gallery, West Hollywood, CA
- “Group Show”, The 4th Wall Gallery, Dallas, TX
- “Natural Beauty”, Mondo Bizarro, Rome, Italy
- “Poster Art Show”, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
- “Some Type of Wonderful”. Lifelounge
- “The BLAB! Show”, Copro Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
- “Berlin’s Smallest Gallery”, Smallery, Berlin, Germany
- “Urban Superstar Festival”, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donna Regina, Naples, Italy
- “Screen Prints”, The Print Club, London, UK
- “Summer Show”, G. Gibson Gallery, Seattle, WA
- “Superhero”, Comic-Con Art Exhibition, San Diego, CA
- “Toronto International Art Fair”, Yves Laroche Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
- “Aqua Art Fair”, Yves Laroche Gallery, Miami, FL
- “Dimebag 3”, Giant Robot Gallery, New York, NY
2008
- “The 1000 Journals Project”, SFMOMA, San Francisco
- “Group Show”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2007
- “Tug Of War”, Hemphill Fine Arts, Washington, DC
- “2007 Los Angeles Art Show”, Billy Shire Fine Arts Booth, Santa Monica, CA
- “Charity by Numbers”, Corey Helford Gallery, Culver City, CA
- “Look Behind You”, Giant Robot Gallery, New York, NY
- “The Vader Project”, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA
2006
- “Rumble Rumble: An Art Throw Down”, Artlab, Toronto, Canada
- “MTV Overground #3”, Toy Tokyo, New York, NY
- “Customized Munny; Traveling Show”, Kid Robot, New York, NY
- “Nanospore Series 01, Customized Figures”, NY Comicon, New York, NY
- “Juxtapoz 2006 Group Show”, OX-OP Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2005
- “Everything But the Kitschen Sync” – La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- “Art Party” – Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
- “I Am 8 Bit” – Gallery 1988, Los Angeles, CA
- “Day of the Doon” – Bonny Doon Vineyard, Santa Cruz, CA
- “Circus Punks Rule” – Toy Tokyo, New York, NY
- “Blab Show” – Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
- “TAAFI” – Gladstone Hotel, Toronto, ON
- “Toronto Art Fair” – Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
- “Prints and Posters” – Outer Edge Studio, Monterey, CA
- “Built for Speed” – L’Autre Galerie, Montreal, QC
- “Partridge and Pear Trees” – Magic Pony Gallery, Toronto, ON
- “Picture Mechanics Show” – Musuem of American Illlustration at the Society of Illustrators, New York, NY
- “Art of Denim” – L’Autre Galerie, Montreal, QC
- “Pop Pluralism” – Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York, NY
- “Weirdo Deluxe” – StuARTGallery, Burbank, CA
- “Male Pattern Baldness and Hummingbirds” – Reading Frenzy, Portland, OR
- “The Postcard Project” – Fosterart, London, UK
2004
- “Uncommercial Art by Commercial Artists” – La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- “The Dress Up Show” – Star Shoes, Los Angeles, CA
- “A Day on the Lawn” – Froden Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- “The Art of Laughter, A Salute to Humor” – Jewish Community Center, Santa Monica, CA
- “V&A Awards” – Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
- “Contemporary Culture” – City of Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
- “10th Anniversary Show” – Giant Robot Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- “Qeedrophonic Doll Show” – OX-OP Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
- “Picture Mechanics Group Show” – Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, CA
- “Dialogue: The Fine Art of Conversation” – Abbey Church, San Diego, CA
- “Ghost Town” – Tin Man Alley, Philadelphia, PA
2003
- “Uncommercial Art by Commercial Artist” – La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- “Robots Have Feelings Too” – Culture Cache Gallery, San Francisco, CA
- “Cubed” – Tin Man Alley, Philadelphia, PA
- “Hand to Eye” – Magma Books, London, UK
- “Doll House Show” – Copro Nason Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- “Cartoon Musuem Show” – Cartoon Museum, San Francisco,CA
- “Picture Mechanics Group Show” – Zeitgeist Gallery, Nashville, TN
2002
- “Quartered de La Luz” – The Cartoon Network, Los Angeles, CA
- “Picture Mechanics Group Show” – 69A Gallery, San Francisco, CA
- “Circus, Carnival, Freaks and Oddities” – CPOP Gallery, Detroit, MI
- “Decipher” – 450 Broadway Gallery, New York, NY
- “La Luz de Leche” – Milk Bedroom Gallery, Toronto, ON
Download full Gary Taxal Bio 2017.