Hurray! Drew Friedman has an art show coming up later this month. I asked him to tell me a bit about the exhibition, and he kindly obliged:
“Drew Friedman MY WAY,” opening April 27th, marks my first “official” New York Gallery show. Although my work has hung in comics shops, group shows, and dance clubs, it will now be on display and for sale, at the Scott Eder gallery in DUMBO, Brooklyn. The show will consist of 40 pieces, the earliest dating back to 1982. On display will be many comic strips which were originally collected in the first anthology of my work, Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead is Purely Coincidental. The timeline of the show ranges from my first comic strips (some written by Josh Alan Friedman) many of which originally appeared in RAW, Weirdo, High Times, Heavy Metal and National Lampoon, to comics created for Blab!, American Splendor and Howard Stern’s Private Parts, and more recent illustration work for created for Entertainment weekly, MAD, The New York Observer, Rolling Stone and The New Yorker. Many beloved and familiar faces will be included: Tor Johnson, Shemp Howard, Wayne Newton, talk show host Joe Franklin, etc… the semi-famous, obscure, forgotten and maligned human beings who have resonated with me my entire life and whose legacy I’ve attempted to keep alive in my work. As my father, the author Bruce Jay Friedman has pointed out: “Drew notices the people that no one else pays attention to.”
This will be the largest showing of my original artwork to date.
The opening night party will also celebrate the hardcover re-release of my first anthology,Any Similarity to Persons Living or Dead is Purely Coincidental (Fantagraphics books), featuring a brand new cover and back cover. Books, posters and prints will available for signing. Surprise guests to be announced! Hope to see you there!
