Artist Turns His Muse Into a Celebrity

BORDENTOWN, N.J., Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Artist Kip Omolade's "Diovadiova Project" uses drawings and paintings to position an unknown model to celebrity status through exhibitions, publications and commercial products.

Recently, art and celebrity have shared an increased commercial co-existence. Jay-Z used an Andy Warhol painting for the cover art for his book "Decoded." Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" CD cover was painted by fine artist Will Cotton. Kanye West commissioned painter George Condo for various covers of his "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album. Peter Max's portraits of teen singer Taylor Swift are sold from her website.

In the past, visual artists like Andy Warhol and Jeff Koons used pop stars as subjects in paintings and sculptures, respectively. Today, art is linked to mass media by the pop stars themselves. In both cases, art is used as a tool to support the fame of modern idols, but can art play a more dominant role in celebrity culture?

Kip Omolade seeks to reverse the trend by shifting the relationship between art and celebrity. He explains, "Instead of a pop star using art, I'm using art to create a pop star." With over 100 artworks of a single unknown model, the former graffiti artist's work ranges from photo realistic oil paintings to cartoon drawings to Warhol-like colored prints. Omolade transforms his muse's face to represent different interests and styles, producing what he calls, "a Lady Gaga of art."

About Kip Omolade

Born in Harlem, Kip Omolade studied at the Art Students League of New York and earned a BFA at the School of Visual Arts. He received a Master's in Special Education from the City College of New York while teaching art to emotionally disturbed students in The New York City Department of Education. His paintings have won numerous awards and have been featured in worldwide publications and exhibitions throughout the East Coast. For more information, visit: http://www.kipomolade.com/diovadiova.html

Photo: http://www.kipomolade.com/KipOmoladeDiovadiovaSkittles.html

http://www.kipomolade.com/KipOmoladeDiovadiovaMahogany.html

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SOURCE Kip Omolade