JASON FOX finds his subjects in pop legends, mythicized politicians, religious and science fiction idols, as well as in his own dogs. But his portraits show little reverence for how each of these modern icons, divine, damned, or mundane, got a seat in the social imaginary. 

Through near-grotesque abstraction, reminiscent of Francis Bacon, or in monstrous hybrids of more than one subject in the style of old comic books, he arrives at a very sui generis formof religious imagery. It draws on everything from dada and the surrealists, through abstract expressionism, to pop art and contemporary portraiture. He tells me:

“From the start I was interested in a kind of cyborg/extreme figuration. I wanted to blow the figure up and rebuild it in a Frankenstein-ish way. Art history and comics were the body parts.”

I had the pleasure to visit Jason in his Upstate New York studio, which he shares with his wife– the great Huma Bhabha. Despite dragons and monsters, I discovered a very relaxing and friendly creative space!

jasonfoxart.com
_{TEXT BY RAFAEL WAACK}