Shag - Lush Life: Recent and Rare Prints by Shag

Josh Agle, also known as Shag (a contraction of the last two letters of his first name and the first two letters of his last) is a painter, designer and illustrator working in Southern California.

Shag’s works are visually influenced by avant-garde animation from the mid-20th century as well as generic advertising art of the same era, imbued with a contemporary attitude and sly sense of humour. The artworks celebrate consumerism and consumption on vividly coloured and sharply rendered panels, with characters socialising in stylish surroundings; however, Shag sees the visuals of his work as window-dressing or stage scenery. He's more concerned with the themes and narratives in the artworks, and the meanings a viewer might find when they look at a piece of Shag art.

The words “Lush Life” could sum up my life and career as an artist. The lavish parties, stunning architecture and tropical settings in the prints and paintings form a lush backdrop to the stories the art tells, and the centerpiece of the show, “The Lyre Bird,” is lush with the flora and fauna of Australia. Although I’ve given up my life as a lush (I quit drinking over ten years ago), the art is still infused with the cocktail culture that I love, a culture that has been central to my work for decades.
— Shag

Selection show here is on show at our Smith St, Fitzroy gallery. We are bringing a slightly edited selection of these prints with us to our Sydney pop-up exhibition. All are available for purchase though anywhere in Australia (with 'The Lyre Bird' being purchasable from us from anywhere in the world).