If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives): devo

Last January I shared with you some of the rugs and art by DEVO founder Mark Mothersbaugh.

Since then he has a whole new slew of rugs for 2009. A large collection of sixty-six 4' x 6' rugs that feature his artwork as well as twelve smaller versions in limited editions, featured in a solo show this past summer at the NOWhere Limited Gallery .

"They'll cover a hole on the floor; you can sweep things beneath them. You don't have to feel reverential about the artwork. You can walk on it. You can do your prayers on it if that's your predilection. And there are many ways to get rug burn on it." - Mark Mothersbaugh, about his rugs.

Here are twenty-four from his 2009 collection. Each measures 4' x 6' and is available for $850.00 a piece and some are also available in the smaller size of 22" x 34" for $275.00. In each image are six different rugs, please click on each image to enlarge:

See all sixty six rugs in his collection here.

The 12 rugs from the show are small. Each measures 22 x 34 inches, has a 1/4 border and includes a signed and titled rug tag:

above: The Sleepover rug

above: Shoes rug

above: Jihad Detecto

above: Hooded Imp rug

above: Hatching a Plot rug

above: Fingerbot And The Boy rug

above: Dive For Safety rug

above: Duo Worm rug

above: DEVO Rope rug

above: Robot Loses His Head rug

above: When He Fell Through The Trap rug

above: X-Ray Visionaire rug

Each is available for purchase here and costs $275.00 USD. Several are also available as 4' x 6' rugs, just ask the gallery.

If you didn't see his stunning rugs for Walteria Living in 2008, see them all here.

Mark Mothersbaugh, member of the iconic and influential band DEVO is a visual artist as well as a musical one. In addition to his books, prints, drawings and paintings, he's recently designed 12 different rugs for Walteria Living in Los Angeles.

above: the cover of DEVO's best selling album, Freedom of Choice and Mark Mothersbaugh

The rugs vary in size and shape, are crafted of 100% New Zealand wool and come in various color combinations. There are 4 limited edition rugs that are based on his previous paintings and drawings and 8 patterned rugs, some of which are based on his previous artwork as well, designed by Mark.

His 4 limited edition rugs:

The 8 other rugs:

In addition to the rugs, he's created a wonderful collection of wallpapers for Walteria Living as well. Many of which are based on his Beautiful Mutants images. Here's a few examples:

In his own hilarious words:

Mark's love of art started early in his childhood, just after it was discovered that he was extremely nearsighted and legally blind.

His first correctional glasses offered Mark a new view of the world, inspiring his obsession with imagery and illustrations. His first works, which he began creating in the late 60's and into the 70's, consisted of many different mediums, including rubber stamp designs, ink illustrations, screen printing, decals, and mail art. He participated in local showings, and received recognition for his work in his home town of Akron, Ohio.

With DEVO, his most successful music project, Mark was able to showcase his artistic abilities on a larger scale, and to millions of people. Through their films, videos, costumes, LP covers, stage shows, and printed materials, Mark and DEVO forever altered commonly held preconceptions of how a rock band should function in popular culture.

During his downtime on early worldwide tours with DEVO, he began illustrating on postcards to send to his friends, which he still creates, and has been creating every day for over 30 years; A very obsessive habit which still yields anywhere from 1 to 25 new images per day. These cards were originally created as his personal diaries, and were never intended for public viewing. That all changed when Mark decided to share his postcard works in his critically acclaimed solo shows during the 80's & 90's, and then with his gallery tour in 2003 titled HOMEFRONT INVASION!. This marked the beginning of many solo shows to come.

Mark followed the 2003 tour with his BEAUTIFUL MUTANTS tour in 2004, which showcased his photographic symmetrical creations and 'corrected' imagery. The tour distributed many more of Mark's works throughout the world, and attracted more first-time gallery visitors & art buyers to his shows.

Mark's gallery tours since 2005 have featured new works from both his Postcard Diaries Prints and Beautiful Mutants photographs, giving each gallery a choice of either visual theme.