Rebecca CAMPBELL YOUNG AMERICANS
INTRODUCTION
The thirty paintings that comprise Rebecca Campbell’s exhibition Young Americans convey an inexplicable magic and complexity through converging metaphors of adolescence and the city of Los Angeles. Created over the past two years, they demonstrate Campbell’s integration of theoretical investigation, psychic exploration and formal invention, captured in her signature virtuosic style.
Ranging in size (10 x 8 inches to 96 x 144 inches) and genre (portraiture, still life and landscape), these new paintings are an expression of Campbell’s active perception of the world, experienced through the interwoven lenses of artist, woman and mother. Complicating the traditional notion of the gaze, Campbell acts as both the perceiver and the perceived: one in which she explores both separation and sameness between herself and her children, between her perception and their reality. Themes of precarity and multiple realities run throughout these new works, with images of Los Angeles and teenager-hood acting as their primary vehicle.
The eponymous Young Americans series engages with, and builds upon, Campbell’s previous series of portraits. The subject of this collection is the artist’s children and their friends, whom she captures in closely observed vignettes. Representatives of our future, Campbell’s subjects navigate adolescence in a world of extraordinary uncertainty. In a constant state of flux and change—even since Campbell captured their recent likeness—each young American encapsulates aspects of nostalgia, inspiration, unfolding and anticipation. Campbell accomplishes a transcendent task in these paintings, demonstrating not only masterful technical prowess but also the ability to convey universal ideas through individual experience.
This catalogue is published on the occasion of Rebecca Campbell: Young Americans , on view 29 May – 20 July 2024.
L.A. Louver, Venice, California
They are pictures of my kids, but I’m looking at myself. I’m watching myself listen to David Bowie, twelve years old, boys asking to do things, not ready, wanting to hear boys ask… a curious child.
I’m watching myself surf Reaganomics in elbow length leather gloves and a silk smoking jacket, on a Tuesday in Home Economic class at Brighton High, where we are learning to make a perfect hot cake, while America wages the perfect cold war.
I’m watching my locker fill up with pictures of Prince, the spectacle and the story of him, slipping through genders like a buttered bullet, Calvin Klein underwear ads, Albert Einstein, and Gene Wilder.
I’m watching myself drowned in an American religion, baptized one week after I wrecked my bike so bad I needed 12 stiches, baptized by a man who told me that if my mind was impure “Satan could enter the house and do anything he wanted” to me. A man who watched me, watching him, born painter.
I’m watching myself after Claudia’s funeral, lead a pack of wild cousins in nylons, in a fiery shoeless shuffle around the kiva, touching the screw in every socket as we pass to decorate our fingers with fireworks. The paint also traces my kids. The people who used to be me, bouncing around with the other 2 million eggs for 35 years, but now they are them.
Young Americans all, flowing from inside to out, real to super real, subreal to too real. And robots are driving the cars, but the kids are still playing music and catching sun. These pictures are of the space between us collapsing, the space between all things collapsing.
I’m watching my oldest sing “Dumb,” Kurt Cobain already 30 years dead.
A boy still cutting himself on angel hair and baby's breath, in a way that feels like deja vu and looks like an alien.
To watch someone is to hold them apart, to see them is to remember them, a piece of yourself.
I’m watching my youngest surf TrumpNation with 3-point shots on the Queen-Anne Yard and enough stuffed animals to make you wonder.
Surf the dissection of her magical body, miracle of science, by the Supreme idiots.
I’m watching middle child levitate, baptized or branded, the sky full of signs. He watches me, watching him under a Hollywood sky of eyes. American beauty, Escape from America.
Rebecca Campbell
Los Angeles, May 2024
48 x 36 in.
(121.9 x 91.4 cm) signed and dated verso
Halcyon 2023, oil on canvas
Where Have You Been My Blue-Eyed Son?
2023, oil on canvas
48 x 48 in.
(121.9 x 121.9 cm) signed and dated verso
In Utero
80 x 80 in.
(203.2 x 203.2 cm) signed and dated verso
2023, oil on canvas
Hollywood is a sign
2023, oil on canvas
60 x 120 in.
(152.4 x 304.8 cm) signed and dated verso
In Between
2024, oil on canvas
80 x 120 in.
(203.2 x 304.8 cm) signed and dated verso
2023, oil on canvas
80 x 106 in.
(203.2 x 269.2 cm) signed and dated verso
California Love
2024, oil on canvas
left canvas: 48 x 36 in.
(121.9 x 91.4 cm)
right canvas: 48 x 60 in.
(121.9 x 152.4 cm)
overall: 48 x 102 in.
(121.9 x 259.1 cm) signed and dated verso
Wolf Moon
Greenhouse
2023, oil on canvas
96 x 144 in.
(243.8 x 365.8 cm) signed and dated verso
2023, oil and gold leaf on panel
20 x 16 in.
(50.8 x 40.6 cm)
signed and dated verso
2023, oil and gold leaf on panel
16 x 16 in.
(40.6 x 40.6 cm)
signed and dated verso
Salmon River Gold Dahliapuddle-wonderful
2023, oil and gold leaf on panel
16 x 12 in.
(40.6 x 30.5 cm)
signed and dated verso
2023, oil and gold leaf on panel
16 x 16 in.
(40.6 x 40.6 cm)
signed and dated verso
Dream2023, oil on panel
16 x 16 in.
(40.6 x 40.6 cm)
signed and dated verso
2023, oil on panel
10 x 8 in.
(25.4 x 20.3 cm)
signed and dated verso
Whisper Tree Pink Light
Young Americans (Valentine)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Max)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Taylor)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Riley)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Angus)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Mia)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Jackie)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Cooper)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Alex)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Kyler)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Rory)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Tess)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Lucy)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso
(Stella)
Young Americans (Andromeda)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
INDEX
Halcyon
2023, oil on canvas
48 x 36 in.
(121.9 x 91.4 cm)
signed and dated verso
Where Have You Been
My Blue-Eyed Son?
2023, oil on canvas
48 x 48 in.
(121.9 x 121.9 cm)
signed and dated verso
In Between
2024, oil on canvas
80 x 120 in.
(203.2 x 304.8 cm)
signed and dated verso
California Love
2023, oil on canvas
80 x 106 in.
(203.2 x 269.2 cm)
signed and dated verso
Wolf Moon
2024, oil on canvas
left canvas: 48 x 36 in. (121.9 x 91.4 cm)
right canvas: 48 x 60 in. (121.9 x 152.4 cm)
overall: 48 x 102 in. (121.9 x 259.1 cm)
signed and dated verso
In Utero
2023, oil on canvas
80 x 80 in.
(203.2 x 203.2 cm)
signed and dated verso
Hollywood is a sign
2023, oil on canvas
60 x 120 in.
(152.4 x 304.8 cm)
signed and dated verso
Greenhouse
2023, oil on canvas
96 x 144 in.
(243.8 x 365.8 cm)
signed and dated verso
Salmon River Gold
2023, oil and gold leaf on panel
20 x 16 in.
(50.8 x 40.6 cm)
signed and dated verso
Dahlia
2023, oil and gold leaf on panel
16 x 16 in.
(40.6 x 40.6 cm)
signed and dated verso
puddle-wonderful
2023, oil and gold leaf on panel
16 x 12 in.
(40.6 x 30.5 cm)
signed and dated verso
Dream
2023, oil and gold leaf on panel
16 x 16 in.
(40.6 x 40.6 cm)
signed and dated verso
Whisper Tree
2023, oil on panel
16 x 16 in.
(40.6 x 40.6 cm)
signed and dated verso
Pink Light
2023, oil on panel
10 x 8 in.
(25.4 x 20.3 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Valentine)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Max)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Taylor)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Riley)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Angus)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Mia)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Jackie)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Cooper)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Alex)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Kyler)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Rory)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Tess)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Lucy)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Stella)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Young Americans (Andromeda)
2024, oil on canvas
30 x 24 in.
(76.2 x 61 cm)
signed and dated verso
Rebecca Campbell was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and now lives and works in Los Angeles. L.A. Louver has represented the artist since her graduation with an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2001, presenting six solo exhibitions and featuring her work in over a dozen group exhibitions.
Campbell’s work has been seen at Art Basel Switzerland, Art Basel Miami Beach, ARCO Madrid, and ADAA: The Art Show New York and is represented in both private and public collections across North America and Europe including Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California; Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon; Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California; Nora Eccles Museum of Art, Utah State University, Logan, Utah; Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizoa; and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Campbell has combined her studio practice with a rich teaching career at institutions including California State University, Fullerton, and Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California.
This catalogue has been published on occasion of the exhibition
Rebecca Campbell: Young Americans
29 May–20 July 2024
L.A. Louver, Venice, California
Catalogue coordination by Mimi King
Edited by Elizabeth East and Mimi King
Rebecca Campbell photograph: Allan Stoops
Studio photography by Rebecca Campbell
Artwork photography by Matt Emonson
Artworks © 2024 Rebecca Campbell
Foreword © L.A. Louver
Publication © 2024 L.A. Louver
Catalogue designed by Stefan G. Bucher, 344 Design
All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced, in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher L.A. Louver.
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