Some artists, like Mark Mothersbaugh can’t be bound to one medium. He’s most known for his role in the band Devo, who made the 1980 hit “Whip It.” Outside of music, he’s always explored a multitude of different art forms. His work is a mish mosh of paintings, prints, photographs, sculpture, decorative arts, video, film, and performance, which also includes over 30,000 postcard-sized drawings from his visual diaries. He’s truly a man of many talents and his work is currently on display at the New York University's Grey Art Gallery. The title of the exhibit, Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia is inspired by Mark’s childhood. He suffered from severe myopia, an eye condition causing nearsightedness. Today, he reflects on his past medical struggle to explore themes of mutation and outsider experiences through his art. Most pieces are graphic, whimsical, and provocative. The exhibition was curated by Adam Lerner and available to the public through July 15th, 2017.
Cortesy of Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh, Untitled, 2013, Postcard Diaries series, Ink on paper, 3 1/2 x 5 1/4 in.
Courtesy of Mark Mothersbaugh
Eric Blum, DEVO in their signature hazmat suits, 1978
Courtesy of Eric Blum/DEVO-Obsesso Archives
Mark Mothersbaugh, Anita’s First Boyfriend, 2004, Beautiful Mutants series Corrected photograph, 11 x 11 in.
Courtesy of Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh, 50-Foot-Tall Scale Models of Proposed Farewell Arches to Luxembourg City, 2014,Painted fiberglass, approx. 59 x 82 x 61 in.
Courtesy of Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh, 1964–Monument to the Conquerors of Space, 2012,30 Ideas series, Inkjet on paper, 43 x 65 1/8 in.
Courtesy of Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh, Untitled, September 1, 1991, 1991, Postcard Diaries series, Ink and collage on vintage postcard, 3 3/8 x 5 3/8 in.
Courtesy of Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh,Artist’s journal, 1980, Stamp ink print, 6 x 8 in.
Courtesy of Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh, Are We Not Men?, 2004 Woven nylon fibers, 48 x 72 in.
Courtesy of Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh, Self Portrait with First Pair of Glasses, 2015 Painted inkjet print, 61 x 44 in.
Courtesy of Mark Mothersbaugh
Bruce Conner BOOGIE BOY: DEVO, MAY 1978, 2011 Pigmented inkjet print
2014 Conner Family Trust, San Francisco / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
