apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Rex Ray has to be from outer space. I still remember seeing his work for the first time. If you're an artist and live with the problems of day-to-day creativity, it is truly amazing when you see someone come up with such an original voice. I have been a fan of his for a long time.
When I lived in Boston before I had my own computer I would make my way to the public library to look at Velocity Art and Design's web-site to see his work and all of the other wonderful artists that were there at that time. His work gave me the push to keep going and kept giving me new goals to shoot for and artwork to look up to.
My wife and I went out to Velocity Art and Design in the spring and John Tusher showed us around and we got to see Rex's work in person. They are even more wonderful in person than they are on the internet.

There are a lot of comments to make about Rex Ray's art - the materials, the fluidity of shapes, and contrasting textures, but what I love about the work is the colour - it's bold, varied, and for someone like me that can be partial to gray, it still really works.

I love that his work is pure exuberance and visual energy. It gives me a feeling of unbridled enthusiasm*.

*Seinfeld quote
"Well it's a story about love, deception, greed, lust and...unbridled enthusiasm"

As I said in a previous post, Rex's work is gorgeous. GORGEOUS! If I wasn't 4,500 miles away I'd be there with my wallet open and eyes popping. Gorgeous!

Happy. Drooling. Happy again. Just a few of the things I experience while looking at his work. I wish I could eat some of it!

Rex Ray's work is very of-the-moment because of the "recycled" quality of the paper collages and the "eco"-look of the colors and textures used. I think the shapes are kind of sixties/hippie-ish but I guess he's from San Francisco (!) I love the mix of the textures and patterns-- it really takes a good artist/designer to get all these balanced on the canvas or page. And it's nice to see a graphic designer returning to working with his scissors and glue and craftpaper instead of his Mac!

Catching sight of Rex Ray's distinct style cues an instant Pavlovian response for me. It's organic, yes, but there's such wonderful movement and synergy in his work that it ends up being a little hypnotic. I've been cooking up schemes to get my hands on a piece for ages. Maybe if I sold a kidney...

Oh, the colors. The colors just suck you in and make you feel good inside. I currently have Cyphellae as my desktop background. Makes me happy.

A friend runs a gallery here in Dallas that has a Rex Ray just waiting for us to purchase it. We only need to save, save, save! How wonderful would it be to have multiple pieces of his amazing work!

The mix of textures, colors, patterns, and shapes - so much to look at to take in. His work is just perfect!

When Rex Ray's work was on display in the Bank of America building, it stopped me cold on my way from Starbucks back to my sad little cubicle. His work was colorful, unique and startlingly gorgeous. And in the middle of the financial distract, those qualities seemed almost subversive. I took four of the exhibit information cards up the elevator and back to my cube, where they stay in permanent exhibit and much-appreciated contrast to the company calendar.

The colors are amazing, but I think it's the mix of textures that really grabs me. He's like Eric Carle for grown-ups.

It's lava lamptastic!!! It's like I'm on the Wondrous Boat Ride with Willy Wonka.... "There's no earthly way of knowing which direction we are going There's no knowing where we're rowing or which way the river's flowing"
But, Honestly. I love his work. A friend of mine bought his book when we were visiting friends in the city and she left it in my car. I had to think twice before giving it back to her. Darn you Golden Rule!

I love the colors and 70s inspired shapes.

swoons & spice & belly flops
rex ray sensual hip hops
feeling is first
in the art that flirts
to have and to hold
with something so bold
brilliant loud candy such
its jubilation never too much

I want to spend some time in Rex Ray's colorfully twisted world, even if it's just an afternoon.

How not to love the work of Rex Ray?
Such an inspiration! His stunning artworks make my heart smile. His work is filled with so much passion, i can't stop looking at the colors, at the textures, the shapes. All of it.
If i would have the book Rex Ray: Art Design, i would feel so blessed. I would be flipping trough the pages nonstop.
Oh, just the thought alone makes me happy. Maybe i would be so lucky.

Rex Ray's work's got so many curves it's like Baby Got Back!
Damn!

rex ray is approachable art. Its stuff that resonates with people beacsue of its simplicity. I think to myself....i could almost do that....but at the same time....the complexity of the painted papers and backgrounds he uses makes his work original.

He makes me smile.

Do you remember those dreams? The ones that felt so real but as soon as you woke up turn out to be completely out of this world. The yummy colors of anything in them, the sun, the trees, the environment that surrounds you. The world is soft and sleek and the objects in it envelop you and your reality. It all goes away as soon as you open your eyes and you wonder if you can hold on to that memory for a moment longer. Usually unsuccessfully... Ray Rex seems to live in that world permanently. His reality is that dream world that we can only visit from time to time and wish that our tourist visa lasted a little longer. Thank you Ray for taking pictures of that world and sharing them with us...

The coloring and diversity of his work is amazing.

A bit of Rex Ray would brighten any day. His concept of turning the work that frustrated him into something that expresses his ideas, is pure genius.