Musician, indie-film star, and the man behind the TV series Fishing With John, John Lurie is a provocative visual artist, as well. Reminiscent of cave paintings, Lurie’s emotionally charged works are paired with clever and engaging narrative titles. His vibrant drawings, watercolors, and oil paintings are imbued with a disarming intensity, serving as colorfully candid meditations on life, death, and everything in between.
In addition to his visual art, Lurie has composed numerous musical works, including scores for such independent classics as Jim Jarmusch’s Stranger Than Paradise and Down by Law — in which he also co-starred. He successfully tackled the small screen with his cult series Fishing With John, and his 1999 album The Legendary Marvin Pontiac: Greatest Hits fooled listeners and critics alike into believing it was a compilation of songs by a fictional Jewish/African-American musician.
Read an interview with John Lurie, visit his website, and if you’re in Los Angeles, see Lurie’s latest exhibit, The Invention of Animals.
Click through below to view a gallery of Lurie’s work.
You Are Here, Courtesy of John Lurie
First You Blow Us, Then We’ll Let You Go, Courtesy of John Lurie
Bird Humiliating Milk Bottle, Courtesy of John Lurie
The People from the Wedding Banquet Find Sexual Freedom in China, Courtesy of John Lurie
Elephant, Courtesy of John Lurie
Bird Falls Near Chinese Garbage, Courtesy of John Lurie
3 Car Salesmen Think of the Same Cat, Courtesy of John Lurie
Bird Has Absolutely No Face, Courtesy of John Lurie
American Women Have the Right to Bear Arms, Courtesy of John Lurie
This Was the Exact Moment Marge Decided to Kill Her Husband, Courtesy of John Lurie
The Judge Was Hypnotized by Alcohol, Courtesy of John Lurie
Hummingbird, Courtesy of John Lurie
I Need to Know If There Is Life After Death I Need to Know Kind of Soon, Courtesy of John Lurie
There Are Popsicles Everywhere, Courtesy of John Lurie