Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali are his heroes.
Surrealism is his inspiration.
Acrylic on canvas is his medium.
And the Martin Lawrence Gallery, 433 Royal St., is where his latest exhibit, “Art With A Twist,” will be staged.
The public is invited to an exclusive exhibition showcasing never before seen original paintings, and hand-signed limited edition works of art, by contemporary American artist Robert Deyber, Saturday, June 10, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
“My ongoing body of work involves the visual interpretation of clichés, euphemisms and idioms,” Deyber said.
Deyber will be in attendance to meet and greet his fans, and entertainment and light refreshments will be offered at the opening reception. The exhibition will run through Saturday, June 24.
Critics say Deyber’s work is “full of surprises.” A skilled painter with an offbeat sense of humor, Deyber feels at home in the pop-surreal sphere where his work takes you to a dreamlike world filled with birds swallowing barns, cows grazing on lunar plains and baseball players throwing balls from clouds in the skies.
“In creating these works the challenge is to take whimsical imagery and attempt to render it in a contemplative and elegant manner without being obtuse,” Deyber told Surrealism Today, a blog covering contemporary surrealism and visionary art. “My goal is also to take something common and elevate it to the uncommon and create theater, an unfamiliar and unexplored scene.”
Born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Deyber has been described as a “visual raconteur” – a storyteller with a paintbrush.
One big fan, musician Tom Petty, commissioned Deyber to paint the cover art for his 2006 album “Highway Companion.” The work shows a spaceman walking with a monkey on a flat orange landscape studded with green shrubs. In the distance stands a spaceship with a stark shadow evoking homage to famed painter Giorgio de Chirico who founded the scuola metafisica art movement, which profoundly influenced the surrealists.
Deyber’s collectors also include Josh Brolin, Alton Brown, Kobe Bryant, Sheryl Crow, Alicia Keys, Trey Parker, Danica Patrick, Aaron Paul, Robin Quivers, John Tyson, Roger Waters, Pete Wentz and the Wrigley Family.
Represented by the Martin Lawrence Galleries, Deyber’s work shares wall space with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Marc Chagall, Erté, Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.
Founded in 1975, Martin Lawrence Galleries New Orleans offers exclusive limited edition and original works by renowned contemporary artists. Gallery reps said they strive to make art affordable for all levels of collectors.
The gallery has lent more than 250 pieces of art to more than 33 museums worldwide and has locations in Costa Mesa, Dallas, Lahaina, La Jolla, Las Vegas, New York, San Francisco and Schaumburg.
Martin Lawrence Galleries New Orleans is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.