Introduction to the art of David Lebow.

Dave Lebow is a representational painter, illustrator and teacher. Born in 1955 in Oklahoma, he has a BFA in Painting from Boston University and an MFA in Experimental Animation from Cal Arts. He studied in Los Angeles with Harry Carmean and Glenn Vilpuu and privately in New York with Burton Silverman and at the Art Students League with Robert Beverly Hale, David Leffel, Daniel Green, Robert Philipp, and Robert Brackman.

In 2000, Dave left painting to work in animation. He went back to painting full time in 2009 and devoted himself to more imaginative, surreal and expressive subject matter. His work was included in the Southwest 90 exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico and in the HEY! Modern art & pop culture Act III, Collective exhibition in the Halle Saint Pierre Museum Paris, France.

Dave Lebow 0
He went back to painting full time in 2009 and devoted himself to more imaginative, surreal and expressive subject matter.

Southern California based artist Dave Lebow walks a line between classical painting and fantasy art. Perhaps best known as the real-life painter behind Showtime series Dexter character “Travis”, Lebow admits that he has always liked strange subject matter.

Dave Lebow 1
Perhaps best known as the real-life painter behind Showtime series Dexter character “Travis”, Lebow admits that he has always liked strange subject matter.

His oil paintings have the sensitivity and attention to detail of realism, yet they are also mystical, racy and even titillating. They depict a realm inhabited by beautiful, sexy women, both warriors and damsels in distress, and absurd creatures of the night.

Dave Lebow 2
His oil paintings have the sensitivity and attention to detail of realism, yet they are also mystical, racy and even titillating.

” I’m attracted to subject matter from the world of pulp illustration, other worldly realms of fantasy, drama and horror as well as classical illustration and realism,” Lebow says.

Dave Lebow 5
” I’m attracted to subject matter from the world of pulp illustration, other worldly realms of fantasy, drama and horror as well as classical illustration and realism,” Lebow says.

Despite the darkness in his work, there’s something bright and wonderful about Lebow’s brand of insanity where figures appear in both ordinary and out-of-this world places. Whether at the dining room table or in outer space, something unexpected always happens: a little girl discovers a genie in the kitchen cupboard, a woman in a bar is attacked by a flying eyeball, and Ezekial’s Angels receive alien visitors.

Dave Lebow 6
Despite the darkness in his work, there’s something bright and wonderful about Lebow’s brand of insanity where figures appear in both ordinary and out-of-this world places.

” I love for people to create their own meaning,” Lebow says, pointing to the multitude of characters and visual elements that he applies to his scenes inorder to create a prolonged visual interest. “I want my images to grab you and drag you if not willingly, then kicking and screaming into my picture.” Dave Lebow will debut new paintings in his solo “Prime Time” opening on May 6th at La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles.

Dave Lebow 4
” I love for people to create their own meaning,” Lebow says, pointing to the multitude of characters and visual elements that he applies to his scenes inorder to create a prolonged visual interest. “I want my images to grab you and drag you if not willingly, then kicking and screaming into my picture.”

Dave Lebow paints nostalgic, pulpy noir narratives using traditional painting techniques. Like an auteur from Hollywood’s Golden Age, Lebow directs themes of adolescent rebellion, oppressive male voyeurism, and hardboiled female revenge by photographing live models in costume.

Dave Lebow 9
Dave Lebow paints nostalgic, pulpy noir narratives using traditional painting techniques.

His protagonists are photoshopped into fictitious, often absurd, chiaroscuro lit backdrops and then printed on glossy paper resembling the inside of a private eye’s briefcase. After this meticulous photo process is complete, Lebow begins to paint his inspired compositions in the vein of Robert McGinnis, Margaret Brundage, and other masters of the genre.

Dave Lebow 8
His protagonists are photoshopped into fictitious, often absurd, chiaroscuro lit backdrops and then printed on glossy paper resembling the inside of a private eye’s briefcase.

Each its own tale, the paintings vibrate on social constructs that have become increasingly controversial and/or obsolete in the 21st century. Lebow invites the viewer to read into the imagery. Monster Attacking Woman, for example, depicts a human skeleton with a dinosaur skull invading the space of a submissive, scantily posed woman on a bed wearing only thigh-high panty hose and heels.

Dave Lebow 3
Each its own tale, the paintings vibrate on social constructs that have become increasingly controversial and/or obsolete in the 21st century.

The symbolism of the dinosaur skull suggests notions of the machismo and womanizing psyche are extinct. Not to mention the obvious- skeletons are dead. The monster is meant to highlight the significance of this historical context, but also emphasize that this social construct is no longer socially acceptable.

Dave Lebow was born in Oklahoma in 1955. He received his BFA in Painting at Boston University and his MFA in Experimental Animation from Cal Arts where he currently teaches portrait painting. He lives and works in Venice, California.

Dave Lebow 7
The symbolism of the dinosaur skull suggests notions of the machismo and womanizing psyche are extinct. Not to mention the obvious- skeletons are dead.

Links

Finalist in the Imaginary Realism Category of the Art Renewal Center’s 2013-2014 ARC Salon. Art Renewal Center with the painting “The Enchanted Sword”.

Art Related Index

This is an index of art that I have found profound, interesting, beautiful or enlightening. In any event, I find that art soothes my soul. I enjoy painting figurative and portraits in oils using the more traditional Flemish technique, but it never really brought me the kind of money I need to live off of. Such is the life of a painter today. Please enjoy.

An experiment of a bird in a vacuum jar.
Robert Williams
Todd Schorr
Mitch O'Connell
Greg (Craola) Simkins.
Mark Ryden
Alan MacDonald
Tokuhiro Kawai.
Jesus Helguera.
Michael Tole
Martin Wittfooth
Ania Tomicka
Bob Dob
Chris Peters

Articles & Links

You’ll not find any big banners or popups here talking about cookies and privacy notices. There are no ads on this site (aside from the hosting ads – a necessary evil). Functionally and fundamentally, I just don’t make money off of this blog. It is NOT monetized. Finally, I don’t track you because I just don’t care to.

  • You can start reading the articles by going HERE.
  • You can visit the Index Page HERE to explore by article subject.
  • You can also ask the author some questions. You can go HERE to find out how to go about this.
  • You can find out more about the author HERE.
  • If you have concerns or complaints, you can go HERE.
  • If you want to make a donation, you can go HERE.