We will be holding a solo exhibition, "OLDE IFFY / BARRY MCGEE," by contemporary artist BARRY MCGEE, who is based in San Francisco.

McGee's work is characterized by its colorful and unique worldview, incorporating the landscapes and street art culture of San Francisco, where he was born and raised, and using diverse techniques such as murals, installations, sculptures, drawings, and photographs. Through his work, McGee expresses social issues such as social class and consumer culture, and has conveyed his message to audiences at numerous museums and exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale, the Prada Foundation, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Boston, the Berkeley Art Museum, the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Aichi Triennale.

This exhibition will feature and sell paintings, including new works, as well as a special video installation created specifically for this event.

McGee himself will be visiting Japan, offering a rare opportunity to experience the spaces he has created. Furthermore, from Wednesday, February 28th, he will be taking over the show windows on the first floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building. The windows will be adorned with decorations featuring a wealth of distinctive motifs, such as powerful patterns and melancholic caricatures, allowing you to fully enjoy McGee's unique worldview.

Event Information

OLDE IFFY / BARRY MCGEE

• Event period: February 3rd (Sat) - March 16th (Sat), 2024
• Venue: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 2nd Floor, Isetan The Space

*Main building 1st floor window display: February 28th (Wed) - March 19th (Tue), 2024

Add to Google Calendar

03

Official Instagram: @isetan_the_space

*Please note that due to various circumstances, changes or cancellations may occur without prior notice. Please be sure to check our website before visiting.

1. Art and Goods Introduction

art

merchandise

View Products

View Products

View the list of merchandise items

2. Interview

Barry McGee was born in San Francisco, California in 1966. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Printmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute and has held solo exhibitions in museums and institutions around the world.

For example, solo exhibitions have been held at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Santa Barbara, California), Fondazione Prada (Milan, Italy), UCLA Hammer Museum (Los Angeles, California), Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (Berkeley, California), Museum of Contemporary Art, Boston (Boston, Massachusetts), and Watari Museum of Contemporary Art (Tokyo).

McGee's works are also included in the public collections of the Museum of Modern Art (New York, New York), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (San Francisco, California), the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive (Berkeley, California), the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota), the New Art Gallery (Walthall, UK), and the Fondazione Prada (Venice, Italy).

—Could you tell us about the inspiration and creative process behind your work?

BARRY MCGEE: My sources of inspiration are diverse, and they are often connected to everyday life, such as beautiful scenery I see in the city, piles of garbage, cute children, and waves crashing on deserted beaches.

—Please tell us your thoughts on holding your first solo exhibition at Isetan.

BARRY MCGEE: I'm really looking forward to presenting my work at Isetan! I'm excited to connect with a wider audience and hope that a visual conversation will begin while people are in the store. One of my first exhibitions in Tokyo was at Parco in the 1990s, so this is a very exciting opportunity for me.

—What are your thoughts on the impact that works of art have on society and people?

BARRY MCGEE: I hope my work brings joy and laughter, and that it can inspire people to think, even just a little, about what we can do to make the world a better place.