Tony Reans

Junk food and hero worship, two very human creations that clearly illuminate mankind's need for unrestrained irrationality, are among my favorite themes, and occupy the heart of my current efforts. Food that's bad for us gives us comfort even though it doesn't taste as good as healthy, nutritious fare. Heroes that could never exist in reality are (we seem to think) just like us. We must be delusional! This is wonderful material for art-making. Lucky for me, these strange creations bring with them mountains of printed materials in the forms of packaging and publications, which can be used to satisfy my fevered imagination.

I create paintings inspired by clip art and comic books, and introduce backdrops of collage onto the canvases that form collaborative relationships with my subjects. Whether food product labels or comic books, the pop icons used in my collages are instantly recognizable to the masses who consume the subjects in the pieces themselves. This is an apropos demonstration of pop culture feeding upon itself; art consuming life, life consuming art.

I just hope my work becomes as addicting as the things I paint!