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Luke Chueh

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Chueh.
Luke Chueh
Luke Chueh with his 4ft Possessed sculpture
Chueh with his 4ft Possessed sculpture (2014)
Born (1973-03-07) March 7, 1973 (age 51)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
NationalityAmerican
Alma materCalifornia Polytechnic State University
OccupationArtist
Years active2003–present
Known forPainting, drawing, graphic design, sculpture
Notable work
  • I Asked For Scrambled (2003)
  • Black In White (2004)
  • Possessed (2004)
  • The Prisoner (2005)
  • Bear In Mind (2006)
MovementLowbrow, designer toy
Websitelukechueh.com
Signature
L Chueh

Luke Chueh (/ˈtʃuː/; born March 7, 1973) is a Chinese-American lowbrow, pop surrealist, painter. His works is a juxtaposition of the cute with the macabre, including various self-portraits reimagining himself as a bear character.

Born to Chinese immigrants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the family relocated to Fresno, California soon afterwards. Taught illustration at a young age, he became obsessed with interpreting the popular culture imagery he was surrounded by. Trained as graphic designer at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, he was hired as an in-house designer & illustrator at the Ernie Ball Company in 1997.

In 2003, Chueh relocated to Los Angeles and started pursuing a career as a painter. He hasn't had to take a day job since.

Life

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Luke Chueh was born on March 7, 1973,[1] and is a first generation Chinese-American; his parents having immigrated to the United States from China.[2] When he was three months old, Chueh's family relocated from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Fresno, California.[3] At the age of four, his mother taught him how to draw Mickey Mouse, which began a childhood obsession to paint and illustrate renditions of his favorite things, mainly Star Wars and other "science fiction stuff that I was watching all the time."[2]

After graduating from Clovis West High School in 1991,[4] the 18-year-old enrolled into the Art & Design program at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.[3] Nearing the completion of his degree, one his professors confided in Chueh that he was "a mediocre graphic designer", but that he was "a good illustrator" and "should pursue a career in that",[2] despite the fact that Chueh had a graphic design concentration and his formal art training was restricted to a "couple quarters of Life Drawing and Illustrations classes".[3]

Hired by the Ernie Ball Company as an in-house designer & illustrator before graduation,[5][6] Chueh primarily created T-shirt and advertisement designs for the brand.[2] Several of these became award-winning,[5] with the artist himself being featured in the 1998 design annuals of both Communication Arts and Print.[7]

During this time, Chueh began spending his nights partying to excess,[2] leading to him being fired from the company. In 2003 he relocated to Los Angeles.[2][5]

After moving to LA, Chueh kickstarted a career as a studio artist. However, he soon fell into addiction, his artwork, from that time, mirroring his struggles. In 2010, Chueh was finally able find sobriety, and is an advocate for people struggling with substance abuse.

Style and works

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"Bear in Mind" (2006)

His images have been praised for their juxtaposition of cuteness with the macabre.[8] "Traditionally, the sublime is described as the beautiful tinged with pain," said Steppling gallery director Sheila Dollente. "Chueh pares that idea to a single spare image borne by figures reminiscent of the soft, innocent stuffed animals of childhood. His paintings are at once intriguing, puzzling, friendly and sorrowful."[9] His paintings and illustrations are noted for bringing together influences as diverse as Mark Rothko and Sanrio.[10][11]

Chueh draws inspiration from deeply personal experiences and pop culture, and has created works that stem from the intolerance he experiences as a Chinese-American.[12]

"Picking Up The Pieces" (2021)

In an interview with Art Prostitute Magazine he stated that he is influenced by his contemporaries utilizing strong illustrative elements. He mentioned Gary Baseman, Camille Rose Garcia, Barry McGee, Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Mark Ryden, and Ralph Steadman.[13]

In 2008 he designed the cover artwork for Fall Out Boy's album Folie à Deux (2008).[7]

In 2011, Gallery 1988 published his first retrospective coffee table book, "Bearing the Unbearable".

Over the years, Chueh's drug-addled bloody bear paintings have evolved. The newer themes are race, consumerism, isolation, and mortality in an approachable and often comedic way.

Luke Chueh's art has been shown at galleries and museums in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia. His most recent solo exhibition, "Peering Through The Darkness" (2023) sold out at Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles.

Projects and Media

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"Possessed" Luke Chueh & Munky King (2007)

In 2007, Munky King Toys released his first of many art toys, "Possessed". Based on the painting of the same name, the figure has been celebrated in the art/designer toy community. Other companies Chueh has collaborated with include Strange Co., In The Yellow, Kidrobot, Mighty Jaxx, and Flabslab. In 2023, Chueh began self producing his own art toy, "Low Fidelity", a figure inspired by his love of Lo/Fi Music.

In 2018, Chueh teamed up with Giant Robot (magazine) founder Eric Nakamura and launched their Art & Culture podcast "Robot and the Bear".

References

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  1. ^ Curtis & Ralat (n.d.).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Gibbs (2017), 100.
  3. ^ a b c Spoor (2012), 246.
  4. ^ Chueh (n.d.-a).
  5. ^ a b c Milosevic (n.d.).
  6. ^ Chueh (n.d.-b).
  7. ^ a b Chueh (n.d.-c).
  8. ^ Whitehouse (2007).
  9. ^ Imperial Valley Press (2003).
  10. ^ Taylor (2004).
  11. ^ Grierson (2004).
  12. ^ Leach (2004).
  13. ^ Searcy & Gibb (2005).

Sources

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  • Chueh, Luke (n.d.). "Biography". LukeChueh.com. Los Angeles, CA. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  • Chueh, Luke (n.d.). "Lucas Chucas: Facebook". Facebook.com. Menlo Park, CA. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017Luke Chueh's personal Facebook page under the alias Lucas Chucas{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Chueh, Luke (n.d.). "Luke Chueh: LinkedIn". LinkedIn.com. Mountain View, CA. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  • Curtis, Nick; Ralat, Pamela, eds. (n.d.). "Artist Archive: Luke Chueh". CoART Magazine. Beacon, NY. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  • Gibbs, Gregg (March 2017). Pricco, Evan (ed.). "Luke Chueh: The Unbearable Heaviness of Being". Juxtapoz Magazine. No. 194. Portrait by Lucas Celler. San Francisco, CA: High Speed Productions, Inc. pp. 98–105. OCLC 889970639. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  • Grierson, Tim (April 26, 2004). "Kids These Days". The Simon. Los Angeles, CA. Archived from the original on June 8, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  • Leach, Matt (November 2004). "Cute But Sad". Empty Magazine. No. 2. Australia. Archived from the original on December 30, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  • "Luke Chueh exhibit featured at SDSU-IV art gallery". Imperial Valley Press. El Centro, CA. November 4, 2003. Archived from the original on June 12, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  • Milosevic, Nikola (n.d.). "Biography: Luke Chueh". WideWalls. Switzerland. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  • Searcy, Mark; Gibb, Brian, eds. (August 2005). "Featurette". Art Prostitute. No. 6. Texas. Archived from the original on March 27, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  • Spoor, Nathan (2012) [First published in Hi-Fructose Magazine, Volume 12 (July 2009), pp. 42-45]. "Ring of Fire: An Interview with Luke Chueh". In Owens, Annie; Attaboy (eds.). Hi-Fructose: Collected Edition, Volume 3. San Francisco, CA: Last Gasp. pp. 246–251. ISBN 978-0-86719-771-6. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2008.
  • Taylor, Mia (2004). "Bright ideas from the hole in his soul". The Book LA. Vol. 1. Los Angeles, CA. Archived from the original on June 12, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  • Whitehouse, Geoff (Fall 2007). "The Colour & The Shape". Clutter. No. 11. UK. ASIN B00C29EYEK. Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
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