Paul T. BradleyPop art will never die, so long as bizarre celebrity obsessions keep it fresh, fun and, y'know, weird. So what's with Ellen? How many renditions of her mug do you think you can handle in one gallery opening?
This weekend at the Terrell Moore Gallery, artist Renda Writer assembled his second annual birthday tribute to Ellen DeGeneres, with exactly 67 portraits of Ms. DeGeneres (that's, um, her age…plus 13 extra for shits and giggles). Fortunately, Mr. Writer's idée fixe on the syndicated talk show host comes with some solid altruism: A portion of all the proceeds from the evening's take and the paintings' sales went to the Trevor Project, an L.A.-based crisis-intervention organization for LGBT youth.
On to the paintings:
10. Caricature.
Just like you'd get on the Venice Boardwalk … but better … and with a bigger nose. By Lori Pratico.
9. Zombie Ellen? Or Just a Negative?
Ellen as laughing Medusa? Or is she a cackling zombie? Hey guys, I set my hair on fire! We like this one because there's just so much going on here … artistically. By Marvel
8. Thrashin' Ellen
Just try explaining this one to your skater brahs — they'll totally understand. Ellen dances and she's got, uh, skater shoes on sometimes … with a pantsuit? Radical. By Muzzy Jones
7. Ellen's Got a Gun.
… on a tote. This will be perfect for showing off your Ellen obsession when you run into her and Portia at the Hollywood Farmers Market. By Shon Browning
6. Abstract Ellen
It's like, all album cover-y and stuff. These eyes … these eyes have seen a lot of Ellen and they're never gonna see another Ellen … ugh. You get the idea. By Octavio Guzman
5. Finding Ellen? Sure.
This one … hrm. OK, fine, just keep swimmin' Ellen, or whatever … in your top hat and tails … underwater. By Ellen Citarrella
4. Ellen as Some Sort of Caricature Troll
That gremlin is dressed like Ellen! Kill. It. With. Fire. Sculpture by Kimmie Lovin.
3. Raccoon Make-up Artist
Yup. Raccoons are the new LOL Cats. Feel it. Seriously, though, we think there's some inside joke we're missing here. Can someone help us out? Kthnx. By Leen Isabel
2. The Birth of Ellen
That's exactly how it happened: Ellen came floating into our lives on a scallop shell. Just like that Botticcelli guy painted that naked lady that one time. Painting by Matt Mattox
1. Norman Rockwell vs. Norma Cockwell
Sorry, Norman, this is the new Americana. Get with it — it's Ellen and Portia, not Dolores and Eddie. Portrait by Shelly J. Cox.
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