Ron English

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For the American football coach, see Ron English (American football).
Ron English
English at the 2012 New York Comic Con
Born
Ronald English

1959 (age 65–66)
Decatur, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation(s)Pop artist, illustrator
Websitewww.popaganda.com

Ron English (born 1959 in Decatur, Illinois) is an American contemporary artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, designer toys, murals, and multimedia projects.[1][2] He coined the term "POPaganda" to describe his subversive appropriation of advertising and pop-culture imagery to critique consumer culture.[1][2][3] English has developed recurring characters such as MC Supersized and other satirical reinterpretations of commercial mascots, and has produced extensive public work, including large murals and unauthorized billboard alterations.[4][5]

He created the fictional world Delusionville and fronts the musical group The Rabbbits, whose songs tell stories set in that universe.[6][7] His collaborations extend into fashion, toys, and design, including projects with Kidrobot and special-edition KD 14 sneakers for Nike.[8][9] English has also developed digital-art and fundraising projects, including NFT releases with the digital collectibles platform VeVe whose proceeds were donated to the New Zealand Red Cross for humanitarian relief in Ukraine, and during the COVID-19 pandemic he released artist-designed face masks whose proceeds benefited the medical charity MedShare.[10][11][12]

Often described as the "Godfather of Street Art", English has been characterized by galleries and media outlets as one of the most influential figures in contemporary street- and pop-surrealist art.[13][14][15] His work has been exhibited internationally in galleries and museums, he has been featured in documentaries such as POPaganda: The Art and Crimes of Ron English and Living in Delusionville, and he has appeared on television programmes including The Simpsons and the reality series Street Art Throwdown; he has also collaborated publicly with other street artists, designers, and musicians.[16][17][18][19][20]

Career

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English has produced images on the street, in museums, in movies, books and television. He coined the term POPaganda to describe a mash-up of high and low cultural touchstones, from superhero mythology to totems of art history, populated with his original characters, including MC Supersized, the obese fast-food mascot featured in the movie Super Size Me, and Abraham Obama, the fusion of America's 16th and 44th Presidents. Other characters in English's paintings, billboards, and sculpture include three-eyed rabbits, cowgirls and grinning skulls – visual, with humorous undertones.

English was interviewed for the documentary Super Size Me (2004), which showed his McDonald's-themed artwork—inspired by his belief about the effect of fast food franchises and restaurant chains on American culture – "MC Supersized".[21]

"Abraham Obama", made during the 2008 US Presidential Election, was a "portrait-fusion" of America's 16th and 44th Presidents.[22][23]

English has painted album covers for the Dandy Warhols' Welcome to the Monkey House, the 2010 album Slash, and the Chris Brown album cover for F.A.M.E. Some of his paintings were used in the Morgan Spurlock documentaries Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. English has collaborated with Daniel Johnston and Jack Medicine in the Hyperjinx Tricycle project.[24] In 2010 he created the artwork for Art Nouveau Magazine's first print issue.[25]

English is the subject of a Pedro Carvajal documentary titled Popaganda (after one of his art books).[26][27] He is also a subject of "The Art Army" action figures by Michael Leavitt.[28] English and his fellow artists Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf and Robbie Conal guest-starred on the March 4, 2012, episode of The Simpsons, "Exit Through the Kwik-E-Mart". In 2015 he was a guest judge on the Oxygen Network's reality show Streetart Throwdown created by Justin BUA.[29]

In November 2021, English's immersive installation Sugar Circus opened at The Nest in Q Plex in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China.[30][31]

Street art

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English has an early background as an art reproducer. English has initiated and participated in illegal public art campaigns since the early 1980s and for this is often referred to as the 'Godfather of Street Art'.[32] Ron English street art activities are the subject matter and covered extensively in the Pedro Carvajal documentary titled Popaganda.[26]

Culture jamming is one aspect of English's work. Although never an official member, Ron several times joined with the Billboard Liberation Front, which practices culture jamming by altering key words on billboards to radically alter the message, often to an anti-corporate message. Frequent targets of English's work include Joe Camel, McDonald's, and Mickey Mouse.[33]

English intends his culture jamming technique to inspire people to question consumer capitalism. English does this by using his over emphasized, grotesque, and to some, offensive, characters to intrigue the consumer, luring them in to reveal the truth behind the product.

Later English focused on another form of advertising: product packaging. He recreates several different kinds of packaging (cereal boxes, milk cartons, cigarette packs, etc.), to reveal truth in advertising. After designing the packaging English and his Team POPaganda infiltrate different retailers around the country and "shop gift". Some of English's product packaging designs include, "Cap'n Corn Starch", "Duncan High Hash Brownies" and "Camel Kool's" THC Enriched Tobacco Cigarettes.

English has created murals at locations throughout the world.[34]

Fine art

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English is a fine art painter specializing in oils. He received his bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. He moved to New York City and apprenticed with several artists, beginning to sell his own work. His style is characterized by extreme photo realism, use of secondary color and appropriation of pop imagery. Frequent themes are revisiting and reworking childhood with adult skill as well as examining the darker meanings behind garish pop surface imagery. English also uses historical imagery as a template to explore universal issues. He has frequently reworked images of The Last Supper, Starry Night, and Picasso's Guernica.[35]

English has appropriated many well known images and characters from pop culture,[36] reworking them into his own images. These include a reworking of Charlie Brown into his "Grin" character and one of his famous "MC Supersized" based on the idea that Ronald McDonald ate his own product. Another image of the idealized American female is that of Marilyn Monroe with Mickey Mouse breasts.[37]

In 1980, English exhibited "Grade School Guernica",[38] one of his versions of Picasso's Guernica, at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art in Houston.[39] The painting depicts the scene acted out by his children viewed from the point of view of the bomber airplane. His largest collection of "Guernica" paintings was on view at Allouche gallery in New York City from September to October 2016.[40] Guernica Trilogy (2008) is shown in different temporary exhibitions in Colección SOLO museum in Madrid (Spain).

"Lazarus Rising" was English's first exhibit in the UK, at Elms Lesters Painting Rooms in London.[41] His exhibition "Season in Supurbia" took place in 2009 at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City.[42] In 2011 he exhibited "Skin Deep: Post-Instinctual Afterthoughts on Psychological Nature", a new body of works exploring the inner lives of iconic figures, at Lazarides in London that represents the artist.[43]

Designer toys

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In 2005 English began creating designer toy versions of his creatures. Ronnnie Rabbbit was English's first designer toy, produced in 2005 by Dark Horse.[44] In 2013, he joined Slash to create a limited edition fiberglass bust of the image used for the Slash and Friends album artwork.[45] He also joined singer Chris Brown to launch their "Dum English" toy; a 10-inch turquoise and pink Astronaut Star Skull.[46]

In 2013, English collaborated with rock band Pearl Jam to produce "Falla Sheep", a blind box line-up with seven color variants of 3.5 inch sheep in wolves' clothing toys.[47] These were sold in stores and also at shows during Pearl Jam's 2013 tour.

Books

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  • Original Grin: The Art of Ron English (2019)[48]
  • POPaganda: The Art & Subversion of Ron English (2004)[49]
  • Ron English's Fauxlosophy (2016)[50]
  • Ron English's Popaganda Coloring Book (2017)[51]
  • Ron English's Vandalism Starter Kit (2014)[52]
  • Lazarus Rising (2009)
  • Art for Obama (2009)[53]
  • Abject Expressionism (2007)[54]
  • Son of Pop: Ron English Paints His Progeny (2007)[55]
  • Abraham Obama (2010)[56]
  • Art is a Horrible Waste of the Imagination (1988)
  • Status Factory (2014)[57]
  • Death and the Eternal Forever (2014)[58]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Ron English". Urban Nation Museum for Urban Contemporary Art. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Ron English – Artworks for Sale & More". Artsy. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  3. ^ Shumate, Laura (29 November 2011). "Learning English". KCRW. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Ron English's Mc Supersized – Artist Series". Artsy. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  5. ^ Queenan, Joe (12 August 2006). "Graphic agitation". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  6. ^ Lee, Elaine YJ (12 October 2018). "Ron English "Delusionville" Exhibition". Hypebeast. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  7. ^ "The Rabbbits". Wave Farm / WGXC. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Ron English Toys, Art Figures & Collectibles". Kidrobot. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  9. ^ "KD14 'Ron English 1' Release Date". Nike SNKRS. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  10. ^ Phare, Jane (9 April 2022). "Buyer 'frenzy': Kiwi collectors and investors compete for must-have items online". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Grade School Guernica 2022 Digital Collectible". VeVe. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  12. ^ Sayej, Nadja (25 August 2020). "Guerrilla artist Ron English: 'You trade your health for art'". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Ron English". Wynwood Walls. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Ron English". Colección SOLO. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  15. ^ "The 'Godfather of Street Art' Ron English Irreverently Reimagines Pop Icons in a New Exhibition at POP International". Artnet News. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Ron English – Exhibitions". MutualArt. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Popaganda: The Art and Crimes of Ron English". Apple TV. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Living in Delusionville". MUBI. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  19. ^ Fuentes, Ed (23 October 2013). "First Legal Works Under Mural Ordinance will be Street Art by Risk with Shepard Fairey, and Ron English". PBS SoCal. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  20. ^ "The Songs of Jack Medicine, Daniel Johnston & Ron English". Important Records. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  21. ^ "An Exclusive Look at Ron English's "East Meets West" Exhibit". Highsnobiety. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  22. ^ Drake, John C. (2008-07-08). "Street artist inspires too much enthusiasm". Boston.com. Boston Globe.
  23. ^ Borrell, Alexandre (June 2010). "Peut-on greffer le visage d'une icone ?". Parlement(s), Revue d'histoire politique.
  24. ^ Dodero, Camille (2008-11-14). "Ron English Might Still Have That Last Unreleased Wesley Willis Record". Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2010-10-19.
  25. ^ "Ron English Covers Art Nouveau Magazine's Summer Issue". Art Nouveau. May 17, 2010.
  26. ^ a b Popaganda: The Art and Crimes of Ron English (2005) at IMDb
  27. ^ "POPaganda: The Art and Crimes of Ron English". Youtube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Mike Leavitt Has a Posse". KidRobot. 2011-05-20.
  29. ^ Musat, Stephanie (March 3, 2012). "Artist Ron English, who resides in Jersey City, will appear on the next episode of The Simpsons as himself ". NJ.com.
  30. ^ "Ron English". Chase Contemporary. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  31. ^ "Join Ron English's 'Sugar Circus'". Shenzhen Government Online. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
  32. ^ Harris, R. Anthony (2014-09-05). "POPaganda! A conversation with Ron English, the godfather of Street Art". RVA Magazine. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  33. ^ Kuesel, Christy. "The fraught business of removing and selling street art murals". CNN. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  34. ^ "World-renowned street artist Ron English brings his 'POPaganda' to Jersey City (PHOTOS)". 2019-08-09.
  35. ^ "Death and the Eternal Forever" Korero Press, 2014
  36. ^ "D*Face & Ron English to Unveil Collaborative Sculptural Edition at DesignerCon 2019". HYPEBEAST. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  37. ^ "Ron English: If it hadn't been for Ron, there'd be no Banksy". The Independent. 2011-07-03. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  38. ^ "Juxtapoz Magazine - Mojo Voodoo & Heavy Metal Muzick: Ron English Brings Some Pop to New Orleans". www.juxtapoz.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  39. ^ "Power Pathos". Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  40. ^ "Ron English Reimagines Pablo Picasso's 'Guernica' Painting for Latest Solo Show". Highsnobiety. 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  41. ^ "Ron English: Lazarus Rising book". Elms Lesters Painting Rooms. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  42. ^ Dambrot, Shana Nys (Nov 21, 2011). "Ron English's 'Seasons In Supurbia' at Corey Helford: Artist's Perverted Spoofing of Disney, G.I. Joe and Charlie Brown". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
  43. ^ "Lazinc – Skin Deep: Post-Instinctual Afterthoughts on Psychological Nature". Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  44. ^ "3D POPAGANDA HISTORY TOUR!". popaganda. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  45. ^ "Slash x Ron English Bust Sculpture". Hypebeast. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  46. ^ "Juxtapoz Magazine - Ron English x Chris Brown "Dum English" @ Toy Tokyo NYC". Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  47. ^ Miranda (22 July 2013). "Ron English x Pearl Jam: Falla Sheep". Clutter. Beacon, NY. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  48. ^ English, Ron (2019-07-16). Original grin : the art of Ron English. Paris. ISBN 978-2-37495-093-8. OCLC 1060583463.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  49. ^ English, Ron. (2004). Popaganda : the art & subversion of Ron English (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Last Gasp of San Francisco. ISBN 0-86719-615-7. OCLC 56715382.
  50. ^ English, Ron (May 2016). Ron English's fauxlosophy (First ed.). [Darlington]. ISBN 978-1-908211-45-3. OCLC 928121529.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  51. ^ RON ENGLISH'S POPAGANDA COLORING BOOK. [Place of publication not identified]: LAST GASP. 2017. ISBN 978-0-86719-851-5. OCLC 988167737.
  52. ^ English, Ron. (December 2014). Ron englishs vandalism starter kit. ISBN 978-0-86719-794-5. OCLC 1023205267.
  53. ^ Art for Obama : designing Manifest Hope and the campaign for change. Fairey, Shepard., Gross, Jennifer (Jennifer Lynn). New York: Abrams Image. 2009. ISBN 978-0-8109-8498-1. OCLC 318415569.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  54. ^ English, Ron. (2007). Abject expressionism. Spurlock, Morgan, 1970-. San Francisco, Calif.: Last Gasp. ISBN 978-0-86719-689-4. OCLC 154697915.
  55. ^ English, Ron. (2007). Son of pop : Ron English paints his progeny. San Francisco: 9Mm Books. ISBN 978-0-9766325-1-1. OCLC 178066631.
  56. ^ Abraham Obama : a guerrilla tour through art and politics. Spurlock, Morgan, 1970-, Goede, Don., English, Ron., Bagwell, Stuart. San Francisco, CA: Last Gasp of San Francisco. 2009. ISBN 978-0-86719-722-8. OCLC 318421212.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  57. ^ English, Ron (2014). Status factory. Nahas, Dominique. San Francisco, California. ISBN 978-0-86719-789-1. OCLC 864411271.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  58. ^ English, Ron (June 2014). Death : and the eternal forever. London. ISBN 978-0-9576649-2-0. OCLC 868078912.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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