Rebecca Campbell: Young Americans

Rebecca

CAMPBELL YOUNG AMERICANS

INTRODUCTION The thirty paintings that comprise Rebecca Campbell’s exhibition

The eponymous Young Americans series engages with, and builds upon,

Young Americans convey an inexplicable magic and complexity through

Campbell’s previous series of portraits. The subject of this collection

converging metaphors of adolescence and the city of Los Angeles.

is the artist’s children and their friends, whom she captures in closely

Created over the past two years, they demonstrate Campbell’s integration

observed vignettes. Representatives of our future, Campbell’s subjects

of theoretical investigation, psychic exploration and formal invention,

navigate adolescence in a world of extraordinary uncertainty. In a constant

captured in her signature virtuosic style.

state of flux and change—even since Campbell captured their recent likeness—each young American encapsulates aspects of nostalgia,

Ranging in size (10 x 8 inches to 96 x 144 inches) and genre (portraiture, still

inspiration, unfolding and anticipation. Campbell accomplishes

life and landscape), these new paintings are an expression of Campbell’s

a transcendent task in these paintings, demonstrating not only masterful

active perception of the world, experienced through the interwoven lenses

technical prowess but also the ability to convey universal ideas through

of artist, woman and mother. Complicating the traditional notion of the

individual experience.

gaze, Campbell acts as both the perceiver and the perceived: one in which she explores both separation and sameness between herself and her

This catalogue is published on the occasion of Rebecca Campbell:

children, between her perception and their reality. Themes of precarity

Young Americans, on view 29 May – 20 July 2024.

and multiple realities run throughout these new works, with images of Los Angeles and teenager-hood acting as their primary vehicle.

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

Young Americans all, flowing from inside to out, real to super real,

in nylons, in a fiery shoeless shuffle around the kiva, touching the screw

subreal to too real. And robots are driving the cars, but the kids are

in every socket as we pass to decorate our fingers with fireworks.

still playing music and catching sun. These pictures are of the space

The paint also traces my kids. The people who used to be me, bouncing

between us collapsing, the space between all things collapsing.

around with the other 2 million eggs for 35 years, but now they are them.

To watch someone is to hold them apart, to see them I’m watching my oldest sing “Dumb,” Kurt Cobain already 30 years dead.

is to remember them, a piece of yourself.

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.

I’m watching my youngest surf TrumpNation with 3-point shots on the

Rebecca Campbell

Queen-Anne Yard and enough stuffed animals to make you wonder.

Los Angeles, May 2024

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.

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 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

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

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

INDEX

In Between 2024, oil on canvas 80 x 120 in.

(203.2 x 304.8 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

Halcyon

California Love

2023, oil on canvas 48 x 36 in.

(121.9 x 91.4 cm) signed and dated verso

2023, oil on canvas 80 x 106 in.

(203.2 x 269.2 cm) signed and dated verso

2023, oil and gold leaf on panel 16 x 12 in.

(40.6 x 30.5 cm) signed and dated verso

Where Have You Been My Blue-Eyed Son?

Wolf Moon

Dream

2023, oil on canvas 48 x 48 in.

(121.9 x 121.9 cm) signed and dated verso

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

2023, oil and gold leaf on panel 16 x 16 in.

(40.6 x 40.6 cm) signed and dated verso

In Utero

Greenhouse

Whisper Tree

2023, oil on canvas 80 x 80 in.

(203.2 x 203.2 cm) signed and dated verso

2023, oil on canvas 96 x 144 in.

(243.8 x 365.8 cm) signed and dated verso

2023, oil on panel 16 x 16 in.

(40.6 x 40.6 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

Salmon River Gold 2023, oil and gold leaf on panel 20 x 16 in.

(50.8 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 (Mia)

Young Americans (Rory)

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

Young Americans (Max)

Young Americans (Jackie)

Young Americans (Tess)

Young Americans (Valentine)

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

Young Americans (Taylor)

Young Americans (Cooper)

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

Young Americans (Riley)

Young Americans (Alex)

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

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

Young Americans (Angus)

Young Americans (Kyler)

Young Americans (Andromeda)

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

2024, oil on canvas 30 x 24 in.

(76.2 x 61 cm) signed and dated verso

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.

45 N Venice Blvd Venice CA 90291 info@lalouver.com 310 822 4955