Gareb Shamus
| Gareb Shamus | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 23, 1968 Tenafly, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Painter, entrepreneur |
Notable works | Wizard Entertainment |
| http://www.garbshamus.com | |
Gareb Shamus (born December 23, 1968) is an American connectivist artist who works primarily as a painter.[1][2][3] . He is the founder of and former Chairman and CEO of Wizard World, which currently owns and operates 21 Wizard World Comic Cons and pop-culture conventions in the United States.[4][5][6][7][8] For twenty years, Gareb was the publisher Wizard: The Comics Magzaine, InQuest Gamer: The Gaming Magazine,[9] ToyFare: The Toy Magazine, Anime Insider and FunFare Magazines; "In" Power, a kids entertainment magazine, Wizard Specials and Toy Wishes, a holiday toy shopping guide, Bean Power, a Beanie Baby magazine, and Sportslook, a sports card magazine.[10][11][12][13] . Shamus also created, operated and sold the IFLI (International Fight League Inc) which he co-founded and served as the CEO[14][15][16] . He produced several televised MMA fights with partner FOX SPORTS Net and MyNetworkTV[17] . He is currently the owner of The Pivot Gallery in New York City's region borough and a galleried artist in America and Europe[18][19]
Childhood
As a child Gareb Shamus collected comic books and sports cards. His early loves were Spider-Man, Batman and Mad Magazine;[20] as a teenager he moved into more into mature comic books created by artists like Todd McFarlane and Frank Miller who began working on Dark Knight Returns and Daredevil when Shamus was a teenager in the 1980s[21] In the 1980s, Gareb's mom opened a sports card and comic book store in Nanuet, New York where Shamus worked and created his titular newsletter, Wizard: The Guide to Comics [22] where Shamus worked and sold his newsletter, Wizard: The Guide to Comic.[23] Shamus studied Economics at the University at Albany, SUNY and graduated magna cum laude with Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a minor in art in 1990.[24] Gareb is the second oldest of three brothers, Ilan, Kenny and Stephen Shamus.[25]
Wizard Entertainment
Gareb Shamus grew up collecting sports cards and comic books with a mother who owned a collectible store. When he graduated from college he started a newsletter about comic books for the store’s customers. It became so popular that in 1991 he turned it into a monthly magazine called Wizard: The Guide to Comics. After only one year, it went worldwide, published in over fifty countries and in multiple languages.[26] He became a celebrity in the comic book arena.[27] Within a few years, he launched more magazines covering toys, games, animation and everything “superhero” (movies, TV shows, video games and toys).
Operating as Wizard Entertainment, in 1997 Shamus' bought Chicago Comicon, expanding the scope and boosting attendance from a few thousand to 25,000 the following year (the Chicago Comic Con continues to be one of the most popular of its size in the country)[28]
Painter
Gareb is an emerging contemporary artist born and raised in/around New York City and currently resides in the West Village.[29]
Selected Exhibitions
“Rungs of Life Art Exchange London, September 23rd, 2016 “Early Days” Art Helix, Brooklyn, September 16ths, 2016
“The Pivot Collection” MRG Fine Art, Sherman Oaks, California, July 16, 2016
“All Art Everything” Guy Hepner Gallery, New York, April 8, 2016
References
- ^ "A Entrepreneurial Journey: From Comic Book Mogul To Breakout Painter".
- ^ "Gareb Shamus American Comic Con mogul Gareb Shamus' transformation into burgeoning abstract painter".
- ^ "Gareb Shamus How To Connect People With Art".
- ^ "Wizard World Inc (WIZD: OTC BB)".
- ^ "Crash! Pow! Profit$".
- ^ "How Do You Get Away With Calling That A Job".
- ^ "Tenafly Resident Brings Comic-Con Phenomenon to New York".
- ^ "Do Changes at Wizard World Signal Trouble for The Convention Business?".
- ^ "A Market Worth Fighting For".
- ^ "Publisher Profits from Pop Culture".
- ^ "Wizard Press and the Trapeze of '90s Fan Culture".
- ^ "11th Annual Holiday Hot Dozen Toy List Released Today".
- ^ "MTV GEEK EXCLUSIVE: A TALK WITH WIZARD WORLD INC.'S GAREB SHAMUS".
- ^ "Fight Club: Catching Up With IFL CEO Gareb Shamus".
- ^ "Sherdog Exclusive: IFL CEO Gareb Shamus".
- ^ "Gareb Shamus Resigns From IFL; More Changes". http://www.mmaweekly.com/.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ "IFL INKS Boradcast Deal With Fox Sports Net".
- ^ "The Pivot Gallery".
- ^ "Chelsea Art Galleries New York Gallery Directory".
- ^ "Wizard Entertainment Founder Gareb Shamus Talks About Childhood, Pop Stars and Wizard World Chicago Comic Con" (PDF).
- ^ "Gareb Shamus Interview".
- ^ "Crash! pow! profit$".
- ^ "Wizard: The Comics Magazine".
- ^ "Tenafly Resident Brings Comic-Con Phenomenon to New York".
- ^ "Tenafly resident brings the Comic-Con phenomenon to New York".
- ^ "Gareb Shamus Interview".
- ^ "Wizard: Publisher Profits from Pop Culture".
- ^ "Wizard World Inc.: A roving comic con looks to corner the geek market".
- ^ "Gareb Shamus American Dream".
