Barry McGee
Barry McGee
Full Name and Common Aliases
Barry McGee's full name is Barry Kitaen McGee. He is also known by his street alias, Twist.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on 1966, Barry McGee passed away in 2023 after a long battle with illness.
Nationality and Profession(s)
McGee was an American artist, painter, printmaker, and muralist who worked primarily in the medium of painting. He is associated with the California Bay Area art scene and the movement known as the Mission School.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in the Mission District of San Francisco, McGee was exposed to the vibrant street art and graffiti that characterized the area's culture during the 1980s. This early exposure had a profound impact on his development as an artist, influencing his style and thematic preoccupations.
McGee began creating graffiti in his teenage years, quickly establishing himself as a skilled and innovative practitioner of the medium. His work was marked by its bold colors, intricate composition, and often humorous or irreverent subject matter.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout his career, McGee received numerous accolades and awards for his contributions to the art world. Some notable achievements include:
A solo exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
Participation in several prominent group exhibitions, including those held at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Commissions from various institutions and organizations, including the City Hall of New YorkNotable Works or Actions
Some notable works by McGee include:
A series of large-scale murals created for the city of San Francisco
A body of small-scale paintings that explored themes of identity, community, and social justice
Collaborations with other artists, including those from the Mission School movement
Impact and Legacy
Barry McGee's impact on the art world is multifaceted. He played a key role in shaping the aesthetic and thematic concerns of the Mission School movement, which emphasized community engagement, social commentary, and innovative use of materials and techniques.
As an artist, McGee's work continues to be celebrated for its beauty, humor, and emotional resonance. His legacy extends beyond his own oeuvre, inspiring future generations of artists to explore new forms of expression and engage with their communities in meaningful ways.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Barry McGee is widely quoted and remembered due to his contributions to the art world as a visionary artist, activist, and educator. His commitment to social justice, community engagement, and innovative artistic practice has inspired countless individuals and institutions around the globe.
McGee's legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of art to challenge assumptions, spark dialogue, and promote positive change in society. As an artist and a person, McGee embodied the values of creativity, empathy, and compassion that continue to inspire us today.
Quotes by Barry McGee
Barry McGee's insights on:
I want to do just, like, regular art. Whatever is made today on canvas goes up against all of art history. It's the most radical thing.
That's immediately how I gauge how healthy a city is-by the amount of tags. It's just in direct competition with advertising. It's still one of the last things that hasn't been corrupted.
Street artists need to get back to actually doing things on the streets instead of in the galleries where they all seem to be ending up. I hope this term 'street artist' falls from the face of the earth, in my honest opinion.
I see a really good tag on a building, a man passed out in the middle of the street, a couple hugging, a cop arresting a panhandler. I'm interested in how all these things are happening in one block.
I read in a weird way. It comes in waves, and then I start, like, five different books at once. It takes me six months to a year to finish them all, since I read mostly on planes.
As soon as I start reading, drawing comes to me more easily. I find I work in my sketchbooks more. But if I'm working on a new show, my reading completely stops except when I'm on a plane. I take a stack of New Yorkers with me. I feel awful about those stacks of New Yorkers.
The parts of graffiti I like are really antagonizing still - it's not something that a museum would really embrace.
Some people are enraged, and some people are applauding. If there were a mission statement for graffiti, that would be it.
If I could get the respect of 14-year-olds, I'm happy. They're the toughest audience.