Andrew Guenther (born 1976 in Wheaton, Illinois) is an American contemporary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. His work includes painting, sculpture, and photography. Guenther received a BFA from Lawrence University in 1998 and an MFA from Rutgers University in 2000. His art has been exhibited in galleries and institutions in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Guenther's work combines painting and sculpture and sometimes incorporates unconventional materials such as clothing, sunglasses, cigars, and papier-mâché, with occasional use of gold or silver leaf. Early in his career, his work referenced death metal, mythical creatures, and kitsch culture. In a 2006 Artforum review, Michelle Grabner compared Guenther's imagery to Francisco Goya and Hieronymus Bosch.
Later works moved toward abstract and surreal themes, often incorporating recurring motifs such as a "Plate Face" figure and marine animals like whales and dolphins. These pieces have been compared to Abstract Expressionism and outsider art for their spontaneity.
Guenther's photography is primarily black-and-white with a documentary aesthetic. He has explained that black-and-white imagery reduces cultural references and emphasizes composition and subject matter.
2012: Bua, Matt, and Maximilian Goldfarb, eds., Architectural Inventions: Visionary Drawing of Buildings. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd. 2008: Mullins, Charlotte, ed., Painting People: Figure Painting Today. New York: Distributed Art Publishers, 2008. 2005: The Triumph of Painting. London: Jonathan Cape, 2005.
2012: Landes, Jennifer. "The Art Scene: 09.13.12." The East Hampton Star, September 11, 2012. http://www.easthamptonstar.com/?q=Arts/2012911/Art-Scene-091312 2011: Pelleteri, Carrisa. "Featured Artist: Andrew Guenther." ARTCARDS Review, March 8, 2011. 2009: Whitehot Magazine. "Andrew Guenther @ Freight and Volume â Looking for Culture Part III: Back to My Old Ways." January 2009. 2006: Grabner, Michelle. "Andrew Guenther, Bucket Rider Gallery." Artforum, November 2006. 2005: Comer-Greene, Rachel. "Sticks & Stones." Time Out New York, August 11âÂÂ17, 2005. 2005: "'You are Here' charts critical look at artistic frontier." The Big Bend Sentinel, October 6, 2005. 2004: "Mixed Paint: A Survey of Contemporary Painters." Flash Art, NovemberâÂÂDecember 2004.