Kirjahaku

Rex Ray celebrates life, work, and legacy of iconic San Francisco fine artist Rex Ray (1956–2015). This comprehensive volume features more than 100 of his works on canvas, wood, and paper—including never-before-seen pieces courtesy of the Rex Ray estate. His playful painted-paper-collages and organic, abstract forms have earned him comparisons to artists like Paul Klee and Henri Matisse. • Essays by celebrated writer Rebecca Solnit, art critic Christian Frock, and Ray's gallerist and friend Griff Williams • Ray's collages and paintings are both playful and geometric. • This vibrant book pays tribute to Ray's life and work. Rex Ray was a successful and prolific fine artist whose art has been shown at major museums and galleries throughout the United States. Now, longtime collectors and new fans alike can revel in the beauty of Ray's inimitable body of work. Ray's exuberantly colorful paintings and collages are a testament to the prolific artist's joy in the creative process. • This fine art monograph is perfect for Ray's fans and collectors, as well as those discovering the power and beauty of his work for the first time. • A perfect gift for lovers of pop art and modern design, museumgoers, fine art fans, artists, designers, and those interested in the San Francisco art scene and local history • Great for those who loved Rex Ray: We Are All Made of Light by Griff Williams, Kevin Killa, and Rene Paul Barilleaux; House Industries: The Process Is the Inspiration by House Industries; and Barry McGee by Aaron Rose and Barry McGee

Jim Melchert (1932-2023) is often described as the "great philosopher of the post-war craft movement." This is the first monograph to document Melchert's esteemed and influential career. The book is a long overdue tribute to one of America's great artists, who challenged ceramic traditions of expression, form, and function and helped elevate the medium's acceptance into mainstream contemporary sculpture. It presents an overview of his storied 60 year career, including his work in the 1960's helping elevate ceramics to a contemporary art form. It documents the artists involvement in the California Funk movement, his groundbreaking 1970s performances, his work in conceptual art and showcases the thrilling broken tile works that preoccupied the artist at the end of his long career. Embedded in his late tile artwork, we see a philosophical concept that when something is broken, it can be repaired and made stronger and more beautiful. We see in Melchert's tile work a metaphor for life. What lies behind these broken shards in Melchert's mesmerizing works is something remarkable: Optimism. Nothing is beyond repair. These remarkable works are born from the belief that we have the power to bring positive change from our misfortune and contribute to the depth of our shared story.