Exhibitions

​HERB WILLIAMS: MASTERHEIST

The Rymer Gallery / 233 5th Ave. N. October 7, 2017 - November 30, 2017

Herb Williams

Picasso said “Bad artists copy, good artists steal.” Andy Warhol responded with “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” Banksy simply took Picasso’s quote and scratched out the signature and replaced it with his own. When a work transcends its own time and becomes more iconic than even the artist who created it, it becomes part of the very fabric of society. For example, Katsushika Hokusai’s “Great Wave Off Kanagawa” is now an emoji. Where will these familiar images appear next? This series explores sensationalism, ownership, and a conversation throughout time. Homaging the masters and assembling these priceless “stolen” artworks in one space is my response to Picasso, Warhol, and Banksy.

- Herb Williams, 2017