Painter, writer and performance artist Joe Coleman has spent much of his life creating tableaus that mix the bold, the odd and the unexpected. Among the subjects of his work: Jayne Mansfield, Ed Gein and Hank Williams.
Coleman is bringing two paintings he has worked on for eight years — “A Doorway to Joe” and “A Doorway to Whitney” — as well as other works to Cal State Fullerton’s Begovich Gallery.
“Doorway to Joe: The Art of Joe Coleman” debuts Saturday, April 8, and continues through Saturday, May 20. The opening will be celebrated with a 5 p.m. reception on the first day. Mike McGee, director of the Begovich Gallery, curated the exhibition.
Coleman’s Odditorium in Brooklyn is his own private museum, where he keeps crime artifacts, sideshow ephemera, wax figures and assorted oddities. He was the subject of a 1997 documentary, “Rest in Pieces: A Portrait of Joe Coleman.” Coleman’s smallest paintbrush consists of a single hair.
Coleman was recently interviewed for Juxtapoz Magazine, where he spoke about his upcoming exhibition at the Begovich Gallery.
More information about the exhibition is available online. The Begovich Gallery is located at 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, 92831. The free exhibit is open noon-4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and noon-4 p.m. Saturdays.