Aside from dollar slices, “The Rent is Too Damn High” dude, and the LES after 2 AM, few things scream New York inside-and-out quite like artist Andrew Kuo. For the past decade, the painter/graphic designer/OC fam member has been using his ties to his home city as well as his own personal connection with his honest inner feelings to create colorful chart paintings. These iconic works depict the inner workings of Kuo’s psyche and put out into the open what everyone else is thinking but is usually too afraid to say. I mean, seriously, have you seen his Instagram? His curated inclusion of cat pics and The Simpsons memes hits just the right buttons whenever I scroll through my feed.
For It Gets Beta, Kuo’s new duo exhibit with artist Scott Reeder, the artist uses his painstakingly composed, colorful charts to convey everything from his true thoughts on “friends” to the anxiety of train rides. Who would have thought that colors as whimsical as sky-blue and deep magenta could elicit such introspective feelings that would leave the viewer saying, “Yeah, he gets it,” to no one in particular? Andrew Kuo did.
Below, we talk with the artist and find out about the inspiration behind the exhibit, why he’ll settle for being called “neurotic,” and who he hopes will come to the show.
CHLOE DEWBERRY: Can you elaborate on the specific paintings that are on display in It Gets Beta? Are they supposed to elicit feelings of anxiety, happiness, or hope?
ANDREW KUO: I try to make most of my paintings talk about anxiety, happiness, and hope! I had a particularly challenging year, and I think a lot of the texts are about that.
Your paintings always have dead-pan, to-the-point names. What comes first: the title, subject, or chart topic?
Usually the texts tell me what the painting will look like. I set up the rules and words, and then map it out. I always keep a running list of ideas going.
Why was Drake used in the art exhibit flyer image? Does Drizzy have any sort of significant impact on the exhibit?
Drake is someone we hope will come to the show! If he doesn’t, at least we had him in the model.
For those unfamiliar, what do you imagine is the first thing people assume about you when they look at one of your paintings?
I would hope “not boring,” but I’d settle for “neurotic."
Do you truly believe that “It Gets Beta”?
I really do believe things have to start somewhere. Where is one of the most surprising places that you’ve seen one of your paintings?
Have you ever walked into a house party and seen the 10 Year Anniversary Print on the wall?
Seeing a print or painting on someone’s wall is always really exciting, but seeing one bootlegged on a T-shirt has to be my favor
For It Gets Beta, Kuo’s new duo exhibit with artist Scott Reeder, the artist uses his painstakingly composed, colorful charts to convey everything from his true thoughts on “friends” to the anxiety of train rides. Who would have thought that colors as whimsical as sky-blue and deep magenta could elicit such introspective feelings that would leave the viewer saying, “Yeah, he gets it,” to no one in particular? Andrew Kuo did.
Below, we talk with the artist and find out about the inspiration behind the exhibit, why he’ll settle for being called “neurotic,” and who he hopes will come to the show.
CHLOE DEWBERRY: Can you elaborate on the specific paintings that are on display in It Gets Beta? Are they supposed to elicit feelings of anxiety, happiness, or hope?
ANDREW KUO: I try to make most of my paintings talk about anxiety, happiness, and hope! I had a particularly challenging year, and I think a lot of the texts are about that.
Your paintings always have dead-pan, to-the-point names. What comes first: the title, subject, or chart topic?
Usually the texts tell me what the painting will look like. I set up the rules and words, and then map it out. I always keep a running list of ideas going.
Why was Drake used in the art exhibit flyer image? Does Drizzy have any sort of significant impact on the exhibit?
Drake is someone we hope will come to the show! If he doesn’t, at least we had him in the model.
For those unfamiliar, what do you imagine is the first thing people assume about you when they look at one of your paintings?
I would hope “not boring,” but I’d settle for “neurotic."
Do you truly believe that “It Gets Beta”?
I really do believe things have to start somewhere. Where is one of the most surprising places that you’ve seen one of your paintings?
Have you ever walked into a house party and seen the 10 Year Anniversary Print on the wall?
Seeing a print or painting on someone’s wall is always really exciting, but seeing one bootlegged on a T-shirt has to be my favor