SEMPE & ST. TROPEZ -FOREVER

NOTHING IS SIMPLE - SEMPEMy summer holiday on the French Riviera was full of wonderful and relaxing experiences.   One big surprise was to find a show of one of my favorite cartoonists on display at the Louis Vuitton boutique in St. Tropez.   Jean-Jacques Sempe is known the world over for his witty commentaries on life.   His unique style is instantly recognizable and his work has graced the cover of countless magazines over the years,  including many issues of The New Yorker.

Born in the early 30's in Bordeaux, Sempe has spent most of his adult life in St. Germain in Paris - and it shows.   His work is full of ironic and funny moments that poke fun at those who take themselves a little too seriously.   Oftentimes children star in the show by acting out behavior learned from adults.   First brought to fame by a child character he created called Le Petit Nicolas.  SEMPE ON PARENTHOOD The comic strip was largely drawn from memories of Sempe's own childhood.

I enjoyed seeing Sempe's work showcased in the newly renovated Louis Vuitton Boutique in St. Tropez.  Now incorporating a large courtyard, the LV space is impressive!

LE PETIT NICOLAS - SEMPELater that same week I stayed at the house of a family friend.  Imagine my great surprise when I realized my bedroom was housing an original Sempe poster.  The subject of the poster?  The antique fair in St. Tropez! SIGNED SEMPE POSTER What an amazing coincidence.   To make matters more interesting - the poster was signed by the artist himself!     Wow - talk about serendipity!  I couldn't have been more pleased.   My hosts were so glad I knew Sempe's work - I was about as tickled as can be.   I immediately went to Amazon on my return home to New York.   Sempe is now in my own collection forever!

To see more work by Jean-Jacques Sempe - click -

SEMPE FOREVER

SPROUSE IN THE GALLERY

SPROUSE BANNER DEITCH PROJECTS SOHODeitch Projects in Soho is ground zero for anything pop - culture related in the art world.     Show after show the gallery continues to be a beacon on light in a dark sea of cookie cutter stores passing themselves off as galleries.

The current show is a crown jewel in the pop culture experience.   "Stephen Sprouse, Rock on Mars" is a retrospective of work from Stephen Sprouse that coincides with the release of  the stephen sprouse book.  The book was created by super talented brothers Roger & Mauricio Padilha - the creators of MAO MAG and owners of MAO public relations.    The show captures the spirit of Stephen Sprouse and his view of the world.    The fusion of punk-pop fashion adorned with graffiti in day-glow neon colors are unmistakably Sprouse.   This is a rare chance to be surrounded by his work - from his day glow tights to his Warhol animal print mural.   Brilliant!  It is an out of this world experience - as if you have landed on another planet - in a strange new world.

Sprouse is dominating New York this month with windows at both LV boutiques in town as well as Full Lexington Avenue windows at Bloomingdale's 59th Street. 

Check out the show at Deitch Projects Soho through Feb. 28th.

To read about Stephen Sprouse on the home page - click Sprouse.