Baron Von Fancy

Baron Von Fancy in his studio

Gordon Stevenson, also known as Baron Von Fancy, is a multimedia artist who lives and works in New York City.[1][2]

Background

Two cartoon paintings by Baron Von Fancy on display at a gallery

Baron Von Fancy was born in New York City and attended Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School. He earned his Bachelor in Fine Arts from Bard College in 2006.[3][4]

Gordon Stevenson identifies himself by his birth name for his artwork displayed in galleries, and he uses the artistic name "Baron Von Fancy" to sign his work used for commercial products.[1][2] For example, his lighters are signed Baron Von Fancy, whereas his paintings are signed with his birth name.[5]

Work

Baron Von Fancy works in various media in addition to canvas. He has applied his distinctive artistic sensibility to create a broad range of tangible, practical items such as sponges,[3] doormats,[3] socks,[3] backpacks, lighters,[2] bow ties,[2] handbags,[6] cell phone cases and shirts.[6] Clever and enchanting at the same time, Von Fancy's work spans the spectrum in some instances from light-hearted to profound, or in other instances, from playful to crude.

Collaborations

Gitman Vintage shirt; design by Baron Von Fancy

Von Fancy has collaborated with fashion, apparel and sportswear brands. Among the brands that he has worked with are: Gitman Vintage, Smith Optics, Baggu, MeUndies, Rag & Bone,[7] Reece Hudson,[8] Reformation, Uber,[9] Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, and Vans.[10] He is known for his originality and talent in matching an object with a humorous and memorable phrase. Larger retailers such as Urban Outfitters,[11] Elizabeth Arden, Inc., Juicy Couture,[6][12] Porsche Design Group,[13] and Patagonia[2] have collaborated with him on distinctive collections and projects.

On January 1, 2016, Vans launched a collections of sneakers featuring Baron Von Fancy's designs.[14] In Fall 2015, Von Fancy provided visuals[15] for the launch of the Louis Vuitton Windows book, published by Assouline.[16] That Summer, Converse selected Baron Von Fancy (among other artists) for social media promotion of its Chuck Taylor All-Star II, the first changes to Converse's highly successful line of sneakers in nearly a century.[17] In his signature typeface, Von Fancy prepared several phrases for display on Converse's Twitter page, including "Can't Wait,"[18] "What's Next?",[19] and "Ready for More."[20]

For Valentine's Day 2015, Kreemart presented an exhibition of his work at Melissa Galerie's SoHo store. Paperless Post launched a collaboration with Baron on Valentine's Day 2014, featuring his greeting cards, invitations and Valentine's Day cards.[21]

Exhibitions and Public Work

Oil painting by Baron Von Fancy on display at the exhibition "I Remember it Differently" at the Tripoli Gallery

Colette invited Baron Von Fancy to create "A Thing Called Love," a show that opened in February 2013 in Paris and featured a range of artwork including murals with some of his signature phrases.[2]

Since 2006, his work has been displayed around the world with exhibitions in California, New York, Florida, at Ochi Gallery in Idaho, as well as in Rhode Island, Iowa, and France.[22] In August 2015, The Tripoli Gallery presented his exhibition "Never Say Goodbye," of paintings that humorously comment on romantic relationships,[23] featuring cartoon characters such as Casper the Friendly Ghost and Jiminy Cricket. Previously, in Spring 2014, The Tripoli Gallery presented an exhibition of his original paintings entitled "I Remember It Differently," which featured paintings of Archie and Disney classics.[4] In the Summer of 2013, his "I Can't Grow Up" mural was displayed on a billboard on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side.[24][25]

In October 2013, for its 125th anniversary celebration, Katz's Delicatessen invited Baron to contribute a work to their pop-up art gallery housed next to the deli. The result, a ten-foot high mural of "I’ll Have What She’s Having," referenced When Harry Met Sally's legendary fake-orgasm scene that had been shot at the deli.[26]

Von Fancy has created sculpture using electroluminescent wire, a fresh medium ideal for explorations of the effects of color.[5] His fascination with color interaction has also been manifested through a number of "water projects," in which he and his collaborators add multicolored dyes to fountains, rivers, etc. for public display.[5]

Origin of the name

The artistic name evolved from his college nickname "Fancy-pants," which itself had originated from his collection of vintage Versace jeans.[1][27] Baron Von Fancy also is known for other of his numerous collections which include homemade prison artifacts, pre-9/11 Twin Towers ephemera, and peep show sex tokens.[28]

Phrases

A hallmark of Baron Von Fancy's signature style is a handwritten phrase or statement in dark black letters.[3] In some cases, the lettering is accented with bright colors, particularly green, pink, and yellow. Von Fancy exercises considerable range in these expressions, which have been described as "poignant,"[29] "playful,"[6] "clever,"[6] "oscillat[ing] from colloquial to profound," [4] "bold,"[30] "poetic,"[2] and "reminiscent of the classic, hand-painted billboards that populated New York in the 1950s and 1960s."[31]

Gallery

  1. ^ http://wallplay.com/art-billboards/billboard-art-baron-von-fancy/

References

  1. 1 2 3 Levin, Amy (May 1, 2014). "Baron Von Fancy’s Gordon Stevenson on His Alter-Ego, Friday Nights in Manhattan, and Ed Ruscha". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Olivennes, Hannah (February 17, 2013). "Baron von Fancy Goes to Paris". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Baron von Fancy". OCHI Gallery. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "Gordon Stevenson: I Remember It Differently" (PDF) (Press release). Tripoli Gallery. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Culley, Elizabeth (3 February 2010). "A Chat with Baron Von Fancy". Juxtapoz. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Brecher, Media (January 2014). "Juicy Couture Joins Forces with Pop Artist Baron Von Fancy for a Cheeky-Cute Collection". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  7. ↑ Nelson, Alanni (23 May 2014). "The Craziest Stories of Artist Internet Success". Complex. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Baron von Fancy Collaboration Bowery Pouchette in Colored Floral by Reece Hudson". Moda Operandi. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  9. ↑ McLellen, Sarah (22 July 2014). "Uber Collaborates With NYC Artists To Create The Perfect Summer Tee". Infinite Legroom. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "Baron Von Fancy Partners with Vans for a New, Clean Slip On". Clotheshorse. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Baron von Fancy X UO Fancy Ashtray". Urban Outfitters. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  12. ↑ Minkoff, Jessica (8 October 2011). "Juicy Couture Debuts Baron Von Fancy Collaboration". Marie Claire. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  13. ↑ Halevy, Ronen (22 November 2013). "Porsche Design P’9982 New York Launch Party". BerryReview. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  14. ↑ Eng, Eddie (1 January 2016). "Baron Von Fancy Works With Vans for a Clean and Simple Collabo Slip-On". Hypebeast. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  15. ↑ "The scene at #lvwindows @louisvuitton #kusama - @ruthiefrieds". Elle Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  16. ↑ Vinson, Nick (26 October 2015). "Window shopping: from vitrines to runway sets, Louis Vuitton puts on a show". Wallpaper*. Wallpaper*. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  17. ↑ Friedman, Vanessa (24 July 2015), "Converse Dares to Introduce the Chuck Taylor II", The New York Times, retrieved 27 July 2015
  18. ↑ Converse (25 July 2015). "@BaronVonFancy is ready for more. #ChuckII" (Tweet).
  19. ↑ Converse (26 July 2015). "Up for anything. cc: @BaronVonFancy #ChuckII" (Tweet).
  20. ↑ Converse (27 July 2015). "We are. cc: @BaronVonFancy #ChuckII" (Tweet).
  21. ↑ "Baron von Fancy: Cards and Invitations for the Bold and the Amorous". Paperless Post. Paperless Post. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  22. ↑ "Baron von Fancy: Ausstellungen". Artnet. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  23. ↑ Laster, Paul. "Things to do in New York’s Art World Before August 28". Observer. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "Billboard Art: Baron von Fancy". Wallplay. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  25. ↑ Steinway, Charlotte. "NYC's Downtown Art Scene". Jetsetter. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  26. ↑ Leveritt, Tom (25 November 2013). "Classic New York: Katz's Delicatessen". GrandLife Hotels. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  27. ↑ Steel, Sharon (3 February 2012). "Most stylish New Yorkers: Baron von Fancy". Time Out New York. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  28. ↑ "Collections: Baron von Fancy". Alldayeveryday. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  29. ↑ "Baron von Fancy". Grey Area. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  30. ↑ "5 Questions with Baron von Fancy". Paperless Post. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  31. ↑ Herriman, Kat (28 February 2013). "Baron Von Fancy’s Hand-Lettered Love Clichés". Artlog. Retrieved 29 July 2014.

External links

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