Marina Marchand’s latest solo exhibition is currently on display at the Dollhaus II art gallery in Bayonne. The gallery is located at 23 Cottage Street, open Friday to Sunday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Featuring more than 20 new paintings, the exhibition opened on April 8. Marchand was on hand alongside her art and fabulously custom painted clothing and accessories.
Marchand’s works are fun and energetic, with bold graphic realism and bursts of color incorporating familiar design patterns of known timeless mysticism and occult themes. With a comic-like drawing ability, Marchand’s precision and knowledge translates into her individual portraits of a wide range of people who inspire her and are inspired by her.
A contemporary outsider artist, Marchand’s work consists of portraits, surreal landscapes, art inspired by comics, science fiction and horror, literature, fascinations with hidden fringe culture and the true crime.
Born and raised in Staten Island, Marchand currently lives in New Jersey. From an early age, her paintings show how mesmerized she was by classic Golden and Silver Age comics in terms of simple lines, bright colors and fantastical worlds on every panel.
Marchand’s paintings are fascinated by classic animation from the 1930s to the 1960s, drawing inspiration from the backgrounds of the “Spider-Man” animated series, especially the second and third seasons directed by Ralph Bakshi with the backgrounds. jazzy and psychedelic shots and music. It was also influenced by the 1990s Batman animated series with its dark black settings.
With a huge body of work, you can see the artists’ influences on great works including: Roy Lichtenstein; Andy Warhol; Guy Peellaery, in particular his comic strips Pravda La Servereuse; Lupe Vasconcelos; Marjorie Cameron; and EC Horror comics.
Additionally, the artist’s musical interests are evident and vital to the paintings, drawing influences from genres such as: 1950s and 1960s rockabilly and garage rock, 1970s punk rock, 1960s French yé-yé pop , old school goth and deathrock, 1940s swing and old school hardcore punk.
Marchand is also a big movie buff. She is particularly fond of classic horror films and posters, cult filmmakers like John Waters, Universal Horror, American International Pictures horror films, giallo films and Hammer Horror, all of which are very dominant in her works.
In addition to being an artist, film buff, and pop culture nerd, Marchand is also an accomplished photographer, art model, LGBTQ+, and mental health advocate.
The exhibition will run until May 1. For more information, visit www.xdollhausx.com.
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