Ron English

About

Ron English is an American contemporary artist born in 1959, widely recognized as 'The Godfather of Street Art' and a pioneering figure in the Pop Surrealist movement.[1][2] He grew up in Decatur, Illinois, a small Midwestern town, where he developed an early interest in comics and commercial art before discovering billboards as a medium for artistic expression.[4] English received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas and an MFA from the University of Texas in Austin, after which he moved to New York to work as an apprentice for several artists.[1] English became famous for coining the term 'POPaganda' to describe his signature technique of creating mash-ups that conflate high and low cultural touchstones, such as combining Marilyn Monroe with Mickey Mouse.[1][4] His practice centers on 'culture jamming'—modifying advertising billboards and mainstream brand imagery to critique corporate agendas, commercialization, and consumer capitalism.[3][5] Throughout his career, he has worked across street art, fine art, and art toy design, creating politically charged works that challenge viewers to reconsider their relationship with popular culture.[2] He currently lives and works in Beacon, New York.[5]

Pop Surrealism, Culture Jamming, Pop Art collage