American kitsch will have a major New York moment starting tomorrow, when Mark Ryden's "The Gay 90's: Old Tyme Art Show" opens at Chelsea's Paul Kasmin Gallery. Ryden is a quirky California-based artist known for fantastical, funny paintings--at once psychedelic and classical--that have made him a favorite of musicians (Michael Jackson, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and idiosyncrasy-seeking Japanese collectors. But where does he come up with such darkly dreamy ideas? He told me where he buys tchotchkes and peeps paintings; see his picks, along with a few more pieces of art, after the jump. This clip of Ryden at work is quite interesting, too!
For inspiration: Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena CA. There is nothing better than spending a Sunday looking for treasure amidst its seas of objects--it's the world's largest outdoor flea market!
For tchotchkes: New York's Maxilla & Mandible is a great place to pick up an old trilobite fossil or a mounted walking stick bug, and in the west area of Tokyo, Nakano Broadway Mall carries amazing vintage Japanese toys and collectables. It is a great place to see what Japanese culture really is. I have had to send crates home after shopping there!
For art: It may be too obvious, but I love the Louvre in Paris, because there is such a massive volume of art that I can always return to see something I possibly missed before. The Huntington in my own backyard in Pasadena is a wonderful place to see fabulous paintings and roam the beautiful themed gardens.
For mystery: One of my favorite museums in the world is the Museo La Specola in Florence. It is filled with 18th century anatomical wax models and other scientific curiosities, and dusty and aged displays are full of morbid beauty that I find to be a sublime inspiration. I also love New York's Natural History Museum, as I am enthralled with the amazing dioramas and the Hall of Biodiversity, which shows the astonishing array of earthly life; it was the impetus for a major painting I made called “The Creatrix.”
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