The Art Guys

The Art Guys (Michael Galbreth, born 1956 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Jack Massing, born 1960 in Buffalo, New York) are a collaborative artist team based in Houston, Texas.

"The Art Guys (Michael Galbreth and Jack Massing) who met at the University of Houston in 1982, have carefully crafted a presence and wacky notoriety that places them at the heart of the Houston art scene and has captured the attention of a national audience. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, they employ a variety of media for the exploration of their ideas including drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, performance and video. The Art Guys create diverse works designed to engage, amuse and challenge viewers by seducing them with a playful sense of humor.

Described in the New York Times as "a cross between Dada, David Letterman, John Cage and the Smothers Brothers", The Art Guys are the court jesters of the postmodern age. The Art Guys present a blend of performance, conceptual and visual art that explores the absurdities of contemporary life and pokes fun at the art world.

All told, The Art Guys defy categorization, they represent a kink in the art historical continuum – a hiccup, a scratch that can't be itched. They have amused, irritated, enchanted and befuddled viewers with their deadpan humor and irreverent antics. Regardless of how they are remembered in the annals of American art, their audience will never be the same."

- from "The Art Guys: KIT AND CABOODLE " Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 1999

History

The Art Guys have worked together since 1983 after meeting while students at the University of Houston. For the exploration of their ideas, they employ a wide variety of media including sculpture, drawing, performances, installations and video.

Described in the New York Times as "a cross between Dada, David Letterman, John Cage and the Smothers Brothers", The Art Guys present a blend of performance, conceptual and visual art that explores the absurdities of contemporary life.

Selected Exhibitions

"Cloud Cuckoo Land: Selections from 25 years of Drawings, Proposals, Failed Schemes and Pipe Dreams," Galveston Arts Center (currently traveling), 2007-2008
"The Art Guys: Seeing Double," Tampa Museum of Art, 2007
"America's Greatest Artists," Galerie Stefan Andersson, 2004
"SUITS: The Clothes Make the Man," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 2001
"The Art Guys Again and Again," the Tacoma Art Museum, 1999
"Visualize The Art Guys," Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, 1996
"The Art Guys: Think Twice," Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, 1995
"Flux Attitudes,"The New Museum of Contemporary Art, 1992
"Project Diomede," P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, 1989

Selected Bibliography [Books and Catalogs]

The Art Guys: Cloud Cuckoo Land (Selections from 25 Years of Drawings, Proposals, Failed Schemes and Pipe Dreams). Galveston, Texas, Galveston Arts Center, 2007.

Creative Time: The Book. New York, New York, 2006.

Houston Contemporary Art. Shanghai, Shanghai Art Museum, 2006 . Suits: The Clothes Make the Man. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2000.

Guinness World Records 2000 Millennium Edition, Britain: Guinness World Records, Ltd., 2000.

The Art Guys Think Twice. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1995.

Autoportraits Contemporains: Here’s Looking At Me. Lyons, France: Espace Lyonnaise d’art Contemporain, 1993.

FluxAttitudes. New York, New York: The New Museum of Contemporary Art, 1991.

External Links

http://www.theartguys.com Official website.