LAZ.inc - Artists - Antony Micallef

Biography

In the last two years Antony Micallef has become one of the most lauded artists represented by Lazarides. In Autumn 2008 he is due to take part in the contemporary programme at the Royal Academy of Art. 2007 saw sell-out shows in London and Los Angeles.

At once colourfully beautiful and deeply troubling, Antony's work examines our dichotomous relationship with consumerism, examining how we can maintain to despise multi-national brands yet still allow ourselves to be seduced by them. "The trouble with pop imagery is that it doesn't really go deeper than the surface" he comments. "You have to drag it down and challenge it to make it interesting, marry contrasting emotions and motifs. The union of two opposites make an intriguing and strange chemistry." Described as 'Caravaggio meets Manga' and 'Bacon in Disneyland' this potent cocktail has seen Antony become enormously popular with collectors.

Despite the popularity of his comparatively spartan "tortured head" series, and being runner-up in the National Portrait Gallery's BP/Amaco Portrait of the Year prize in 2000, Antony has always turned down commissions insisting not only that he's a figurative painter, but that he could never see himself "inflicting such brutal emotions on somebody I didn't know." He has recently branched into sculpture.

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Original Art

Thumbnail of Rape In Times Square (Diptych)

Prints and Books

News

Lazarides Rathbone Gallery Opening

Our new gallery, studios and offices on Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia (or 'NoHo', as it was previously named by estate agents - that's 'North Soho' by the way, not a term describing the discernable lack of 1st Floor 'models' North of Oxford Street) in "swinging London's fashionable West End", is finally due to open next week. Or at least it will be if someone learns how to say to the builders and decorators, "Sorry to interrupt yet another break, I can see you're hard at work on those sandwiches, but you do realise we're opening next week?" in 7 different languages.

Regardless of linguistic logistics, we will be opening the (probably still wet) doors of our newly renovated, elegant, five-storey Georgian townhouse to the public on Friday the 15th of May. With just under 4,000 sq. ft of space for exhibitions, studios, and offices to play with, our first show will be the next installment of the Lazarides cornerstone; the ”Outsiders" group show featuring brand new work from Antony Micallef, Bast, Conor Harrington, David Choe, Faile, Jonathan Yeo, JR, and Vhils, to name but a few; as well as some outstanding pieces from some very special guests.

Until then, if you see Steve Lazarides on Rathbone Place looking angry and shouting at builders in 7 different languages, don't, whatever you do, say, "What's the matter with you darlin', got the painters in or something?"

*Below is an image of an actual piece of work by David Choe that might appear in the show!

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Outsiders - Walsall

Lazarides has teamed up with The New Art Gallery - Walsall (near Birmingham), to bring you Outsiders, a group show featuring many of the artists we represent such as Jonathan Yeo, Faile, Invader, JR, Zevs, Polly Morgan, Antony Micallef, Paul Insect, Miranda Donovan, David Choe and Vhils. Plus Incredible site-specific, wall pieces from Conor Harrington, Lucy Mclauchlan and Todd James.

Check out our exhibitions page for more information.

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Antony Micallef - GSK Contemporary RA

We are pleased to announce Antony Micallef with be contributing to the Royal Academy's inaugural GSK Contemporary exhibition.

The exhibition features more than 20 art exhibitions, 40 live events and 100 film screenings over each of the next three winters.

You can view Antony's pieces from 31st October 2008 - 19th January 2009.

More information can be found on the Royal Academy website.

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America: Land of the free booze, home of the rave.

Nightmare on Greek St vs the Outsiders (2)

The art crawl began last Thursday with Ben Turnbull's depiction of the American dream gone wrong; Captain Sensible, Saddam Hussein, Guantanamo babies and George Dubya cryogenically frozen, presumably so he can turn up in the future and cock that up as well...A very grim fairy tale indeed which left down stairs feeling like something between a kindergarten and a torture chamber.

Buoyed by the thought of a terrible future for our kids, the heat and liquor, we stumbled punch drunk to Charing Cross Rd where Laz had hung a new group show.

Once there, bedazzled by original works of gods like Dondi, the throng of urchins, wiseguys and the faithless quaffed beer like it was literally going out of fashion in favour of cocktails, because we all know that unless you've had more than 12 drinks, dancing in a gallery does feel weird. So drink the shame away I say......

To all those that came and saw, cheers... until next time, I'm off for a full blood transfusion and a word with myself.

Thanks to Tiger, Acyde and Gwen Guthrie. 90% of me is Rum.

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The Outsiders Private View

Fanatics, loose cannons, crazed beings, lunatics ... yes “The Outsiders” show is now open and running. They came; they saw; they drank; they danced like there was no tomorrow. The art on the other hand was amazing, an all you can eat feast for the eyes, and with most of the artists there, the chance to corner your favorite hero with drunken chat about how long you've been in love with them was all too much for some...hence the obscene levels of alcohol consumption, and shape shifting / dancing.

Thanks to all that came, Tiger for the beer and Oval for the Vodka and Mr jazz dance ... if there's a better reason for staying fully clothed in an art gallery I haven't seen one.