Pop Art Meets the Wild West in Austin at West Chelsea Contemporary’s Summer Exhibition
New works by Miles Glynn and Cyrus Walker reimagine Western icons with neon, paint and vintage flair
This summer, West Chelsea Contemporary is embracing the American West, a time when cowboys ruled the land, with its new two-part exhibition.
Neon Range: Pop Visions of the New West kicks off at the Austin gallery on June 14 with the first phase featuring artwork from Marfa-based Miles Glynn and Cyrus Walker from Helena, Mont. The two artists are making their Austin debut with contemporary interpretations of classic cowboy imagery. Think, colorful damsels in distress on railroad tracks and horseback adventures with a neon touch.
West Chelsea Contemporary’s collection romanticizes this period of lawlessness through a modern and layered lens.
Glynn’s mixed media works draw inspiration from vintage cowboy advertisements and 20th-century photographs, using silkscreen, paint and neon lighting to bring his nostalgic vision to life. The Texas artist has been featured in several galleries, collections and exhibitions across the U.S.
Meanwhile, Walker’s paintings feel like you’re flipping through old-school Western comics. He uses a saturated palette and bold outlines to add a modern twist on the traditional folklore from the Wild, Wild West. The Montana-based artist’s work is represented by several galleries across the American West.
Visitors will also be able to see a couple of pieces in the exhibition from Austin’s Todd Sanders, famous for his vintage-style neon signs.
“What differentiates us from other galleries is we’re able to bring the works into people’s homes,” says Monica Quiñonez West Chelsea’s director of marketing. “You don’t necessarily have to purchase them, but if you want to see how it fits into your space and live with it for a bit, you can book an appointment and get with our sales team to take that step.”
Collectors will get a chance to meet both of the featured artists at the gallery’s private viewing.
The second phase of the Western exhibition arrives on July 19 and runs through August 17 with a major name and surprise twist to be revealed in early July.
West Chelsea Contemporary is located at 1009 W. 6th St., and is open 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
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