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Metroplex Sundown (Dallas) magazine- August 9-15, 1997 By A.J. Crowell, M.B.A., Publishing Goddess

 

Joey Seeman, the Miami native, loves to wonder into the forbidden and personal side of people’s lives. Many of his canvases capture characters in moments of ecstasy and excess. All you have to do is look at his images and you can tell they are enjoying every bit of life’s indulgences and love what they are into at that moment. Seeman’s paintings are created with eye-catching bold and bright acrylic colors that emphasize the danger and naughtiness of his characters. His paintings are tributes to the old sci-fi and B-movies, female entertainers, bar flies, various S&M images, and an entire series of Mexican Wrestlers.

Seeman’s kinky "pop" cartoon-like artwork has roots in old as well as current science fiction movies, as well as the works of artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith haring, and various print mediums. At local underground bars, he has become a notorious ‘people watcher’ as he gathers inspiration for his work.

After a vacation from painting, Seeman returned to his art in 1991 and has been impressing the art world ever since. Showings have been held in numerous galleries, museums and clubs in South Florida, New York and Texas. The gallery of the Unknown Artist held shows of Seeman’s canvases for several years. His artwork has also appeared on CD covers for various hard-core bands.

If you ask Seeman why he thinks his work has become so popular he says, " I wanted to bridge the gap for people my age, create art that they can relate to. I wanted to see what I could get away with and still have people accept it." He also adds, " That’s the combination that makes me do what I do now…youth and outrage." Seeman’s work also attracted the attention of New York clothing designer Anna Sui. She used images from his bondage themed work for her fall 1995 collection. One of the pictures on the t-shirts was of a mischievous looking devil and a bondage girl. Another was of a stylized devil standing behind two women with Betty Page haircuts. One of the girls wears a skintight dress and accessorized with a dog choke collar. The other woman is almost nude with her hands restrained. The red-orange background of the picture has yellow Japanese characters that lure you in to the depravity of the scene.

Seeman’s artwork sells for up to two thousand dollars. The almost immediate popularity of his oversize paintings is attributed to his unusual mix of contemporary art and graffiti; and of course, it’s the way he presents the themes of social issue and taboos. His art reveals the souls of his figures. He expresses the honesty and openness of the individuals in their most private and secretive activities. The images force you to feel as though you have intruded into forbidden areas of their souls.

Joey Seeman’s artwork will be on display at Justine’s Milam Gallery for a show that begins this weekend. The show is titled " Forget the Lithium-Pass me a Beer". Opening reception is August 9th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Milam Gallery is located at 5224 Milam Street in Dallas.