January 4th - February 10th, 2007
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 4th 6-8

As a conscientious 27 year old citizen and parent, Anthony Lister struggles with the constant barrage of commercial information that is endlessly assaulting him and his children. He states, “As my children flip through channels on the T.V. they are always skipping over images of soft-porn disguised as music videos beverage commercials, etc.” This awareness has heightened his sensitivity and cynicism of commercial advertising.

Dismayed by the blatant aggression of corporate propaganda constantly invading our personal space, Lister has created a body of work that unabashedly combines seemingly passive content with its probable underlying subversive message. These compositions poignantly address modernity’s fascination with animated characters such as Mickey Mouse, Snow White, The Simpsons, Family Guy, etc., and deliver a biting commentary on society’s numbing acceptance of corporate greed.

Anthony Lister’s past artistic explorations captured subjects close to the hearts of Australian citizens and include the hardships of poverty, drug addiction, homelessness and the welfare system. By drawing upon lessons he learned pursuing these now iconic ventures, Lister once again points out the distinction between self-expression and corporate business strategy. Through his particular selection of sculpted, cartoon imagery and surreal nudes Anthony has worked to highlight a growing divide between the power of a penetrating corporate media, tailored by profit-hungry conglomerates and the diluted competition of parents, each jockeying for influence over the minds of this generation’s youngest consumer market.

Lister graduated from Queensland College of Art in 2001, shortly after, he went to New York and worked under the mentorship of New Zealand painter Max Gimblett. Recently, he undertook a research residency in Berlin, and his travels have extended him to take part in solo and group exhibitions around the world. Lister is consistently a finalist in a number of prestigious awards including: The Prometheus Art Award and the Metro 5 Art Award for the past two years. Anthony Lister currently lives and paints in New York City.