Ensemble: Jim Shaw - Thrift Store Paintings
Diverse paintings
Dimensions variable (about 400-500 works)
Private Collection Brussels
With the care and dedication of a true collector, Jim Shaw has been collecting paintings by amateur artists for more than half a century now, purchasing them at thrift stores, flea markets, and online auctions – paying between $5 and $35 per canvas. This way, his diverse yet surprisingly coherent collection grows with a mixture of banal and absurd scenes. The Thrift Store Paintings fit within Shaw's interest in American popular culture, and his equal approach to both professional and non-professional cultural production. As extremely personal and idiosyncratic responses to life within the prevailing systems, and to the political climate, this collection depicts a hidden worldview, deviating from mainstream media and culture. It suggests the existence of a collective social, political and cultural unconscious in the United States of America.
“Everybody is always projecting their own psyche on to any art. Going through thrift stores or flea markets, you can psychoanalyse the culture in some way. I am looking for things that are about the subconscious drives of Americans or people in general.” – Jim Shaw
Works
>Man Bedevilled by Woman with Magic Symbols and Checker Board.Painting.
>Evil Cobra Vampire Breaks Heart in Roger Dean Spacescape.Painting.
>Walking Man, Locomotive, Airplane, Flying Saucer on Masonite.Painting.
>Moon and Space.Painting.
>Astronaut in Ornate Theater, by Louis Bertrand.Painting.
>Green Wavy Forms and Red Face, by Carmouche.Painting.
>Fat Person with Big Lips Stares at Flower with Saturn Tied to Back, by Phillips.Painting.
>Extruded Evil Witch Face in White Rays.Painting.
>Bearded Blonde Alien in Text & Space Ship, Channeled by Hunt & Vensen.Painting.
>(...?) Angel with Sword in Hell.Painting.
>Sad Angel Waits for a Date in Purple Room.Painting.
>Kandinsky-esque Nudes, by A. Hanson.Painting.
>Evil Woman with (...?) Jewels.Painting.
>Emperor Oversees the Dead.Painting.
>Red Haired Woman in Blue Suit and Demon on Swing.Painting.
>Woman on Man's Mind, by Roehl.Painting.
>The Nymphs.Painting.
>Spanish Dancers, by Don Huebner.Painting.
>Geisha with Tea, by John Vincie.Painting.
>Geisha with Koto, by John Vincie.Painting.
>Geisha with Flowers, by John Vincie.Painting.
>Robots Build More Robots, by Danny Hall.Painting.
>Robots Fly Off in Jets, by Danny Hall.Painting.
>Metal Faced Phantom and Woman Victim, by Jeroslav Jerry Gebr.Painting.
>Concrete Ear with Power Lines.Painting.
>Iron Stove with Surreal Chinese Landscape.Painting.
>Cubist / Surrealist Piece with Saxophone, Clock, Mouth and Eye, by Frida Miller.Painting.
>Face Peers out over Chessboard with Gold Balls, by Per Jensen.Painting.
>Atomic Crystal and Cross Landscape by Ronald Telcucky.Painting.
>Spacescape.Painting.
>Disembodied Hands Reach for Globe, by Al Buzz.Painting.
>Hanging Apple Cast Eaten Shadow in Jail Cell, by Bill Riley .Painting.
>Giraffe and Balloons in Surreal Landscape by Fountaine.Painting.
>Phantom Lady, Eyeless Sphinx, Pavilion, Note 'The Enigmatic Bride', Green Sky, by Christiana Rinnassa.Painting.
>Eye in Back of Bandaged Head in Tropical Room by Al Buzz.Painting.
>Fractious Still Life with Flask, Gas Can which Spirals to Mysterious Object.Painting.
>Landscape with Nude Woman Purple Unicorn and Mean Tree by Gustavson (lots of writing on back).Painting.
>Baby at the Door of Mortality, by Giovanni.Painting.
>Adam and Eve in Bleak Industrial Landscape.Painting.
>Roman Statue Steps off Platform, by Richard Laub.Painting.
>Psychotic Landscape, by Sarah Browne.Painting.
>Youth Rising Phoenix-like From Flames.Painting.
>Dragon in Scorched Landscape, by S.N.M..Painting.
>Boy's Face Hidden by Tattered Curtain.Painting.
>Tribe Wearing Leaves Treks Away from Volcano, Men Are Clean Shaven, by Jeri Weisner.Painting.
>Stormy Background, Woody Triangle Leads Through Stone Farm to Sunny Land, by Réné De Wée ('La Force Du Destin').Painting.
>Warped Cross in Rainbow Landscape, by Ronald Telcucky.Painting.
>Two Vikings.Painting.
>Biblical Figures Fighting with Giant Swords.Painting.
>Hairy Arm Threatens Young Blonde Man from Grave.Painting.
>Surreal Landscape with Butterfly and Wine Glass.Painting.
>Two Youths Peer at Eye in Floating Giant Orange.Painting.
>Mash Figure Walks into Sky on Planks by Ernest Villere.Painting.
>Three Dimensional (...?) Undersea Dyptich.Painting.
>Wizard with Red Rays.Painting.
>Samson Destroying the Temple, by Frederick Vance.Painting.
>Christ in Heaven.Painting.
>Loin Clothed Man Hanging by One Wrist.Painting.
>Madonna and Child, by Favio Donato.Painting.
>Praying Madonna.Painting.
>Imperilled Sailors See Angel Midst Rays, by Andrew Tagaris.Painting.
>Three Dimensional Knight with "Ich Dien" Banner.Painting.
>Poseidon with Gold Trident on Fish, by Don Domingo.Painting.
>Cityscape Reality, by S.D.F. Laurens.Painting.
>Blue Surrealist Landscape with Hand.Painting.
>Broken Evil Computer (...?) Demons on World.Painting.
>Cobra Coiled Atop Round Structure, by Guanxin.Painting.
>Seductive Sleeping Beauty and Prince.Painting.
>Neptune and Crossed Waves.Painting.
>Girl with Cross Outside of Church, by Josie.Painting.
>Nude and Birds Silhouetted over Two Merged Sea-Scapes by Ricmore.Painting.
>The Lich.Painting.
>In Attic, Black Knight Flies From Mirror that Girl Steps Through, by Moon and Space.Painting.
>Mushroom, Olive Branch, Ecology Sign.Painting.
>The Birth of the Dance (Figures and Lion Cracking Apart).Painting.
>Glowing Religious Statues Pass Through Cosmic Doorway.Painting.
>Man with Fox and Vine in Velvet Frame, by Chady.Painting.
>Primitive Yellow Male Figure, by Wood.Painting.
>Yellow Female Primitive Figure, by Wood.Painting.
>Untitled (Brown Woman with Vampire Fangs, by Cara Day).Painting.
>Vietnam, LSK, JFK, Flag, Flowers etc., by Craig Lambert.Painting.
>Framed Woman and Butterfly.Painting.
>Surrealist Landscape with Exclamation Mark, by Per Jensen.Painting.
>Squeeze Me Baby, Till the Juice Runs Down My Face.Painting.
>Black Preacher in Red Gown.Painting.
>Organic Form Fantasia in Browns, by Marikka.Painting.
>Moths on Abstraction, by R. Vallar.Painting.
>Psychedelic Swampscape, by W.W.S..Painting.
>Hands with Grapes and Crows, by Al Baker.Painting.
>Virgin Mary with Rays, by R.S..Painting.
>Jesus over Centurions Heads.Painting.
>Ballet Dancers with Carnivalesque Cats, Moon, and Scroll.Painting.
>Mohawk Baby with Snake Tongue, Looks at Flowers.Painting.
>Brushy Jesus on Panel, Red / Purple Background.Painting.
>Smiling Blonde Angel and Sunrise.Painting.
>Christ Chasing the Money Lenders from the Temple, by Fredrick Vance.Painting.
>Jesus and Small Sheepy, by Joe Taylor.Painting.
>Mains Joins et Croix, by Francis Moore.Painting.
>Woman Praying with Rosary, by Edmund Krolicki.Painting.
>Jesus Ignoring Temptation.Painting.
>Hand and Man Play Keyboard etc....Painting.
>Medieval Courtship by Carol Lee.Painting.
>Cowboy and Clown with Rectangle.Painting.
>Yellow and Green Rays.Painting.
>Moon and Diamond with Liquid Universe and Ballpoint (...?).Painting.
>Two Figures with Ray, by Gilmore.Painting.
>Untitled (by Steve Lenda).Painting.
>Off-White Field with Symbols of Travels, by Ed Carlson.Painting.
>Threatening Semi-Abstract Orange Figure.Painting.
>Abstraction in Lemon, Pink and Blue.Painting.
>Modern Paintings with Pink, Grey, Yellow, Green, by Lawrence Sandusky.Painting.
>Phallic Green Screw Enters Blue and Yellow Fantasy.Painting.
>Untitled (Color Grid).Painting.
>Perspective Lines on Green.Painting.
>Multi-Coloured Abstraction on Mauve.Painting.
>Psychedelic Marker Fantasy.Painting.
>Whimsical Heads, Numbers and Forms, by Hiber.Painting.
>Red Baron.Painting.
>Word Balloons Talking to Each Other out of Electrical Outlet .Painting.
>Def Leppard Tribute, by R.H..Painting.
>George Washington in Black and White Psychedelic Landscape.Painting.
>Forest Fantasia with Blue Leaves, Magenta Aread and Sun Rays, by Carmouche.Painting.
>Large Abstract Sky with Yellow / Orange Cloud Blobs and Grey Schmutz Surround.Painting.
>Mondrian with Green and Sky Blue Blobs.Painting.
>Yellow Swirl Vortex on Grey and Blue.Painting.
>Shaded Colours Between Tree Branches, by Lisa Cohen.Painting.
>Swami Sahara, by Julian Jageau.Painting.
>Modernist Figure in Grey, by Gus.Painting.
>Reclining Harem Resident.Painting.
>Topless Woman with Cyclops Apple Head, by Roehl.Painting.
>Five Figures Crouch in Tent.Painting.
>Black Male Nude on Blue.Painting.
>Topless Woman with Primitive Mask.Painting.
>Shawled Woman with Rope.Painting.
>Woman Dancing While Two Men Look On.Painting.
>Judian (?) Girl Waves Goodbye at Shore.Painting.
>Nude with Mirror in Landscape.Painting.
>Purple Faced Woman + Blue Faced Man with Ankh.Painting.
>Two Old Men Play Chess, One in a Bright Red Jacket.Painting.
>Green Still Life with Folded Yellow Paper with Holes, by Jére.Painting.
>Empty Red Town with Gallows.Painting.
>Swampy Landscape with Tragedy Mask, Fan and Rose.Painting.
>Green Interior with Open Door and Red Chair.Painting.
>Black and White Landscape with Fence.Painting.
>Santa Lands on Tiled House with Xmas Decor, by H. Den Man.Painting.
>Mountain Landscape with Deer in Foreground and Gold Squares on Frame.Painting.
>Topless Woman in Garden with Central Tree, by Udo Caan.Painting.
>Bald Man with Large Yellow Earring on Green.Painting.
>Nude Woman with Gold / Red Robe and Siamese Cat.Painting.
>Nude Woman with Guitar on Beach, by Elliot Haskell.Painting.
>Dark Nudes Double Exposed, by Laurie Hoffman.Painting.
>Impasto Nude in Arch.Painting.
>Nude Reclining Woman with Cloudy City Behind.Painting.
>Grandma with Supergraphics, by Ron Henry.Painting.
>Dancers and Masks with Sprangles, by Shi-Je.Painting.
>Three Prostitues on Streaked Background, by Menikoff.Painting.
>Nude Blonde Woman with Submarine.Painting.
>Threatening Semi-Abtract Orange Figure.Painting.
>Word Balloon Talking to Each Other out of Electrical Outlet.Painting.
>Deaf Leppard Tribute.Painting.
>Dark Fantasy Abstraction with Yellow-Green Slobs.Painting.
>Four Quadrants with Red Bird, Winged Figure, Phallus, Balls + Vagina, by E. Kamin.Painting.
>Portrait/ Landscape with Bearded Guy + Hands, Chest, Butt, Woman, Eye, Flowers, by Pen.Painting.
>Three Lurid Masks, by J. Murayama.Painting.
>Blue Man with Veins on Head Looks at Apple, by Thomas Cañas Marquez.Painting.
>Figures Struggle with Giant Skull in Hallway.Painting.
>Psychedelic Forms Burst from Painted Frame.Painting.
>Man Raising Arms Surrounded by Psychedelic Flames and Eyes, by Steve A. Berny.Painting.
>Portrait/ Landscape of Eyes and Bearded Guy in Baseball Cap, by Pen.Painting.
>A Woman of Ill Repute Relased to Custody of the Universe, by Paul Bradley.Painting.
>Apocalyptic Cityscape.Painting.
>Nude with Wind Blown Blanket on Spired Beach, by K.M..Painting.
>Psychedelic Queen from Carols (?).Painting.
>Pollock-ish Portrait, by Millstein.Painting.
>Artist Looks on Impassively while Others React with Horror.Painting.
>Man with Three Arms Bedevilled by Girls, Religion, Alcohol in Black Surreal Landscape, by William L. Stavricos Jr..Painting.
>Woman Surrounded with Purple and Red Tails.Painting.
>Savage Warrior with Newsprint Face Holds Ears Clamped Shut.Painting.
>Man Tormented by Thoughts of Women.Painting.
>Flower-Eyed Woman Hypnotises, by Joyce Roehl.Painting.
>Erect Male Genitals in front of Sunset, by J.M.T..Painting.
>Lying Figure & Woman’s Spirit in Stadium, by Kelvin.Painting.
>Modernist Portrait in Rusty Browns, by D.A.S..Painting.
>Skeletey Face.Painting.
>Man’s Head with Stains, by Miner.Painting.
>Spock on Yellow Background and Logo, by John D. Poquette.Painting.
>Randy Rhoads, by Johnny le Desna.Painting.
>Stretched Sinatra in Grey, by Entz.Painting.
>Young Man with Yellow Shirt, by Coit.Painting.
>Man with Green Shirt and Midlands Paper, by Setdi.Painting.
>Palette, Paint, Brushes.Painting.
>Stylized Artist’s Studio, by M. Allen Ponter.Painting.
>Flowers on Pink Background, by Joni.Painting.
>Still Life with Peanuts and Striped Bags and Scissors.Painting.
>Abstracted Still Life.Painting.
>Campbells Soup Cans mirrored with Still Life.Painting.
>Beer Mug, by Judy.Painting.
>Ice Cube, Glass, Slice, by Ritchie.Painting.
>Still Life with Leather Hat.Painting.
>Nude Woman on Couch, by McBride.Painting.
>Black and White Mannequin Still Life.Painting.
>Woman with no Pubic Hair with Purple Flame Background.Painting.
>Nude Red Head Woman on Gold Toilet.Painting.
>Lucy and Ethel in 1890’s Ball Player Drag Argue with Vampire.Painting.
>1890’s Drag Ball Players.Painting.
>Man Strains in Yoga Position.Painting.
>Three Female Athletes form Triangle in Circle.Painting.
>Loose Mini Skirted Woman with Arm Around Asian Statue, by M Tropp.Painting.
>Tired Looking Woman with Snake and Candle.Painting.
>Woman in Purple Singing with Blue / Green Background, by Sandee.Painting.
>Nude Trapeze Woman Double Exposed .Painting.
>Two Ballet Dancers in Pink, by Phil.Painting.
>Quarterback.Painting.
>Ice-Skater in Speedo at Sunset, by Phil.Painting.
>Red Haired Woman with Top Knot / Tail on Green Background with Tears.Painting.
>Upside Down Man in Bottle with Peppermint Socks, by Roehl.Painting.
>Skull-Eyed with Curtain, by Roehl.Painting.
>Tarzan Sees Mexican History Behind Him.Painting.
>Naked Males Locked Symbolically.Painting.
>Beefcake with Drippy Nipples, by Chew Ming.Painting.
>Scotsmen Dancing over Swords, by Tom E. Raymond.Painting.
>Dirt Bike Rider.Painting.
>Embossed Woman’s Profile.Painting.
>Embossed Man’s Profile.Painting.
>Long-Faced Man with Tie.Painting.
>Local TV Anchorman, by Mary Steward.Painting.
>Dino at Restaurant.Painting.
>Blue Haired Narrow Headed Person with Pink Top.Painting.
>Curly Haired Man with Glasses, Mustache and Floppy Black Tie, by Reine Son.Painting.
>Guru-Type Relaxes, by Fence.Painting.
>Business Man with Faint Hitler Moustache, by Bas.Painting.
>Red Haired Woman With White Shirt And Tree Branches.Painting.
>My Blue Bird.Painting.
>Tiptoeing Large Headed Man.Painting.
>Clown Secretary.Painting.
>Gertrude Stein-ish Clown.Painting.
>Psychedelic Organic Shapes on Black, by Saunders.Painting.
>Psychedelic Tired-Looking Woman.Painting.
>Nude, Deer Head, Many Women and Dotted Line.Painting.
>Two Girls Terrified in Garden.Painting.
>Cubist/Surrealist Piece with Saxophone, Clock, Mouth and Eye.Painting.
>Psychedelic James Dean Portrait.Painting.
>Headless Beat Girl with Text and Paint Brushes in Neck, by Roehl.Painting.
>Fishing Lure with Woman's Head, by Roehl.Painting.
>Cosmic Blonde Girl with Liquid Universe and Ball Point Defacing.Painting.
>Frankenstein-Magritte Boots.Painting.
>Blue Field with Dog, Tree, House, Flowers, Carrots, Bike.Painting.
>Dead Tree with Giant Lemon on Chain.Painting.
>Purple Surrealist Landscape with Pink Frame, by N. Prokos.Painting.
>Pop Art with Gas Pump, Whiskey, Money, Mouth, Woman.Painting.
>Strange Interstate Bondage Image, by J.J. Allen.Painting.
>Nude Blonde Woman with Cigarette Holder.Painting.
>Woman in Underwear Smiles at Photo by Pink Couch and Painting.Painting.
>Robot Bursts Out of Crate, by Danny Hall.Painting.
>Robot Attacks Two Women, by Danny Hall.Painting.
>Two Shoes with Faces, by De Rolf.Painting.
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>Two Abstract Tiki-like Faces.Painting.
>Woman in Black Undies at Vanity Table.Painting.
>Jesus and Babies over Mountain Pool Landscape, by Mattack.Painting.
>Yellow Surfer and Egg in Curl.Painting.
>Man and Woman Emerge from Egg in Seascape, by Harris.Painting.
>Neptune and Nymphs Astride Sea Animals, by Edwin Lafferty.Painting.
>Indian Maidens Frolic in Bikinis.Painting.
>Nude Woman Reclining on Orange Bed with Semen on her Nipples, by H. Berry.Painting.
>Off-Road Helmet Merges with Landscape.Painting.
>Old Man with Zoroaster Books, by Michelangelo Selim Mickels.Painting.
>African Woman with Psychedelic Spider Web.Painting.