Richard Duardo Artist & Master Printmaker’ On View At Muckenthaler Cultural Center

FULLERTON, CALIF. --– “Richard Duardo: Artist and Master Printmaker,” the first survey of work by the artist, who died unexpectedly in 2014, in California is on view at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center. The exhibition, on view through August 21, features works by the Richard Duardo, along with prints by some of the hundreds of artists whose editions he printed over his fourdecade career as an artist and respected master printmaker in Los Angeles.

Duardo was known as the “West Coast Warhol” for his often large-scale, colorful prints of famous musicians and entertainers like Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Madonna, Jimi Hendrix and others, as well as artists like Frida Kahlo, and even Andy Warhol himself (who once offered a young Duardo a job at the Factory in New York). In the late 1970s Duardo produced prints for Los Angeles punk pioneers the Plugz, the Brat, and the Screamers, some of which will be included in the show.

The Muckenthaler Center’s exhibition also includes unique collaborative prints made by Duardo with artists Gajin and Chaz Bojorque. A separate area of the show will feature artworks by some of the many artists whose work Richard Duardo printed, including John Valadez, Frank Romero, Carlos Almaraz, John Van Hammersfeld, Bob Zoell, Camille Rose-Garcia, Germs, Sage Vaughn and Sonia Romero.

Richard Duardo was born in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles in 1952. He studied art in college, earning an MFA from UCLA. He opened his first studio, Hecho en Atzlan, in 1978, and subsequently founded several other studios, including Modern Multiples, the LA serigraphic studio he operated until his death. Modern Multiples has produced prints by more than 300 different artists, including Banksy, Keith Haring, Deedee Cheriel, Becca, Rob Dyer, Speedy Graphito, Albert Reyes, Mark Mothersbaugh and Shepard Fairey, and continues to print for artists today.

Richard Duardo (1952–2014), “Marilyn Monroe,” print.

Duardo’s work is held in numerous private and public collections, including that of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In 2015, the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, organized a solo exhibition of works by Richard Duardo from their permanent collection.

On August 11 there will be a gallery tour conducted by the artist’s sister, Lisa Duardo, who currently manages Modern Multiples. The tour begins at 7:30 pm and is free and open to the public.

“Richard Duardo: Artist and Master Printmaker” is organized by the Muckenthaler Cultural Center and Modern Multiples. The Muckenthaler Cultural Center is at 1201 West Malvern Avenue. For more information, www.themuck.org or 714-738-6595.