APPOART

“I’m afraid of becoming labeled”

Esao Andrews is an American painter known for his oil paintings on wood panels that blend Gothic grotesque, erotic, and surreal elements. He was born in 1978 in Mesa, Arizona and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City.  Andrews has exhibited in group shows with other notable artists like John John Jesse, Travis Louie, and Tara McPherson. He also has created cover art for all of the official releases by the band Circa Survive. 

Artistic style:

He has a unique, haunting style with a colorful palette and his paintings often feature mysterious and devious subject matter rather than themes of good against evil. 

Andrews aims to capture moments of mystery and deviousness in his work. 

He has been described as presenting “various works, contributing to his ‘no-style’, perhaps because of the fear of being labeled and trapped in only one artistic category”.

His subject matter is diverse, as he is constantly seeking new ideas to avoid being pigeonholed into one type of subject, like wide-eyed girls.

Common themes in his work include the destruction of sense, the desire to fly, weapons as power, flames as truth, and water as salvation.

There is a sense of the macabre and the horrific mystery made up of illusions in his paintings.

Andrews’ art depicts the damnation of man/animal and the perception of detachment as an intense struggle of depth.

Most important works:

Album Artwork for Circa Survive

Andrews is best known for creating the cover art for all of the official album releases by the band Circa Survive, including Inuit Sessions (2005), Juturna (2005), On Letting Go (2007), and Blue Sky Noise (2010).

His surreal, gothic, and erotic style has become closely associated with the band’s visual identity.

Comic Book Covers

Andrews has produced numerous comic book covers for Vertigo Comics over the course of his career.

This includes contributing to the original Fables graphic novel 1001 Nights of Snowfall. 

Skateboard Designs

Early in his career, Andrews designed skateboards for companies like Deathwish Skateboards and Baker Skateboards.

This helped establish his distinctive visual style in the skateboarding subculture.

Murals and Site-Specific Works

Andrews has created site-specific murals that have been exhibited, in addition to his panel paintings.

This suggests he has expanded his practice beyond just two-dimensional works on wood panels.

Exhibitions:

Beetle Shell: Solo Show at Thinkspace Projects (Los Angeles)

Opening reception on May 4th, 2024 from 6pm-10pm, open to the public

Show runs through May 25th, 2024

Features 20 new paintings that share relics from an imagined world

Inquiries for purchasing available works can be sent to contact@thinkspaceprojects.com

Located at Thinkspace Projects, 4217 W. Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016

Group Exhibition at BeinArt Gallery (Melbourne, Australia)

Featuring internationally renowned artists Esao Andrews, Dan Quintana, Miso & Elizabeth McAlpine

Exhibition opens on May 4th, 2024

Additionally, the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona will be hosting a solo exhibition of Andrews’ work that will feature site-specific murals alongside new and old paintings. The exhibition aims to create “vicarious gateways into worlds populated by stirrings of the subconscious.”