"I see my paintings as exploring a space that encompasses both psychology and flesh." - Shayne Hull

"Anus Andronicus" by Shayne Hull, Oil on panel, 30x30in, 2018, SOLD

Since fall of 2017, Shayne Hull has been creating what he calls his "Andronicus" series, “…depicting members of the Trump world as grotesqueries (duh!), with a tenuous thematic connection to the vileness of the world of Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare's infamous political tragedy.”

We saw the first of these in Hull’s last Artebella appearance several months ago, but time has not blunted the edge of his caustic satirical eye. The artist is unsparing in illustrating his contempt for the Contemporary Political Animal, depicting them, with no mercy, as something less than fully human. He is an unabashed Provocateur of the first order.

“As a painter and portraitist, I’m interested in exploring and expressing the notion of (alternate) identity through grotesquerie, physical exaggeration and distortion, and body trauma. Importantly, I want my subjects to appear equally dramatic and humorous. Drawing inspiration from the work of artists like John Currin, David Cronenberg, Robert Williams, Jenny Saville, and Lucien Freud (among others), I see my paintings as exploring a space that encompasses both psychology and flesh.”

"Bild That Wall!" by Shayne Hull, Oil on panel, 32x48in, 2018, $1800

Hull teaches at Trinity High School, and he both inspires and is inspired by the experience: “I gave my students an assignment to create a drawing of their perspective of a social issue important to them. I received one drawing that was so spectacularly bizarre that I told the student, ‘This looks like one of my pieces (which of course meant he got an A+). What if I was to paint it one day?’ He said that would be awesome. So with a few tweaks here and there, here it is! (‘Bild That Wall!’) Thank you, Deke!”

Hull is currently showing these pieces as a part of Politicians and Flesh at Swanson Contemporary through August 11, 2018.

Hull studied painting at Texas A&M and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), and earned a Master in art education from the University of Louisville. The Kentucky Arts Council has honored Hull with the Kentucky Visions 2004 Purchase Award, an Individual Art Professional Development Grant, and the 1998 Al Smith Artist Fellowship. He also won the Frank F. Weisberg Excellence in Painting Award at the 2003 Water Tower Annual (Louisville, KY).

Hometown: East Moline, Illinois
Education: BFA in Painting, Texas A&M @ Corpus Christi; MFA in Painting, Maryland Institute College of Art; and MAT in Art Education, University of Louisville
Website: http://www.shaynehull.com/
Gallery Representative: Swanson Contemporary (Louisville)

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"Meat Andronicus" by Shayne Hull, Oil on panel, 30x30in, 2018, $1200

"Dr. Dong" by Shayne Hull, Oil on panel, 32x46in, 2018, $1800

"Hangry for Sausage" by Shayne Hull, Oil on panel, 24x48in, 2018, $1800

"Paul Bunyan" by Shayne Hull, Oil on panel, 24x30in, 2018, $1200

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Drawing

Vignette: Shayne Hull

Guest User · October 3, 2017

Taking Inspiration From William Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus

"Donald Andronicus, Jr." by Shayne Hull, pastel on board, 2017, $575

When Shayne Hull turns his sardonic eye to public figures, he joins a great tradition of political satirists, such as the legendary Hugh Haynie. Republican Strategist Karl Rove, and President Barack Obama, have all been subjects, and now, partially inspired by the plot of William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, Hull offers portraits of “Mobin Andronicus, Sr.,” “Eric Andronicus,” and “Donald Andronicus, Jr.,” wickedly funny caricatures that strike at both sides of the political aisle and require no pithy caption for their pointed understanding.

Hull’s human heads are often misshapen, so the knack for satire fits him like a second skin, but he also turns his misanthropic perspective on himself, and those whom he holds dear. Self-flagellation in portraiture was not invented by Hull, but few have exposed themselves so ruthlessly on a gallery wall. Barbed wire is a most unforgiving material to wrap a human head, and his own children model adhesive tape and play with wooden rods that are can be suggestive of something more sinister.

On another level, the portraits reveal the malleable plasticity of human form applied absurdly to the skull. Our brains are encased and protected in these rounded shields of bone, and that they are here so easily distorted suggests an awareness of the arrogance by which we take our bodies for granted; a cautionary reminder of our own fragility and the preciousness of life.

Such dark humor may invite squeamishness in the viewer, yet even the most disturbing of Hull’s images (a wooden rod tucked under a boy’s chin) contain a deeply felt humanity; a playfulness that pushes boundaries with what often feels like a child-like sensibility. That quality may come, in part, from his work with young patients at the Kosair Children’s Outpatient Hospital (Louisville, KY) where Hull and his students created a 10′ x 20′ ceramic tile mural.

"Eric Andronicus" by Shayne Hull, pastel on board, 2017, $575

Shaynicus Andronicus, a solo exhibit of Shayne Hull’s work, will be on view at LVA during the performances of Titus Andronicus by Kentucky Shakespeare that runs October 4 – 31 (Thur-Sat 8:00pm), or by appointment through Louisville Visual Art.

Hometown: East Moline, Illinois
Age: 56
Education: BFA in Painting, Texas A&M @ Corpus Christi; MFA in Painting, Maryland Institute College of Art; and MAT in Art Education, University of Louisville
Website: http://www.shaynehull.com/
Gallery Representative: Swanson Contemporary

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"Mobin Andronicus" by Shayne Hull, pastel & oil on panel, 18x24in, 2017, $575

"Are We Not Men?" by Shayne Hull, pastel on board, 18x24in, 2014, $575

"Bad at Pool" by Shayne Hull, pastel on board, 18x24in, 2014, $575

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