Keith Mayerson

A drawing of 4 persons lying in one bed.
A drawing of 4 persons lying in one bed.

Keith Mayerson (b. 1966), My Family, 2013. Oil on linen, 56 x 70 in. © Keith Mayerson; courtesy the artist and Derek Eller Gallery, NY. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

Born 1966 in Cincinnati, OH
Lives and Works in New York, NY

Reflecting the painter’s lifelong interests in fine art and the language of comics, Keith Mayerson’s My American Dream presents a nonlinear narrative that he asks the viewer to complete. The “American dream” that it proposes is idiosyncratic, personal, and disruptive of traditional understandings, as it focuses simultaneously on subjects drawn from cultural history and the civil rights struggle and from Mayerson’s own life. The salon-style installation includes images of Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, Abraham Lincoln, and others, and links these stories to those of the nation and of Mayerson, respectively, coming of age. Paintings of Superman and popular musicians such as Marvin Gaye and the Beatles are juxtaposed with depictions of the artist as a child with his family and with paintings based on photographs of Mayerson with his husband, Andrew Madrid.

The paintings were made over a period of about twenty years. The earliest are exactingly executed; in recent years Mayerson has also made more improvisational abstractions, as well as representational paintings that include passages of freely expressive brushwork. Throughout, optimism mingles with desire, portraying Mayerson’s belief that “personal agency could help to define and strengthen this country.”

Works by Keith Mayerson

  • A mock up of paintings.
    A mock up of paintings.

    Mock up of Keith Mayerson’s My American Dream. Installation at the 2014 Whitney Biennial, March 7 – May 25, 2014.

  • A painting of a boy lying on bed.
    A painting of a boy lying on bed.

    Keith Mayerson, Rebel Angel (Trevor Machine), 2010. Oil on linen, 18 × 30in. (45.7 × 76.2 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a girl holding a long gun.
    A painting of a girl holding a long gun.

    Keith Mayerson, Annie Oakley, 2013. Oil on linen, 48 × 36 in. (121.9 × 91.4 cm). Collection of Leigh and Reggie Smith, Houston.

  • A painting of a person in native american clothing.
    A painting of a person in native american clothing.

    Keith Mayerson, Sitting Bull, 2013. Oil on linen, 48 × 36 in. (121.9 × 91.4 cm).Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of parents teaching their kids play the piano.
    A painting of parents teaching their kids play the piano.

    Keith Mayerson, Drum Majors (Martin Luther King, Jr., and Family), 2008. Oil on linen, 40 × 30in. (101.6 × 76.2 cm). Collection of Buffy and Stephen Levy. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a boy sleeping in his bedroom.
    A painting of a boy sleeping in his bedroom.

    Keith Mayerson, Sleeper, 2011. Oil on linen, 48 × 36 in. (121.9 × 91.4 cm). Collection of Robert Crabb

  • A painting of a tiger walking in the snow.
    A painting of a tiger walking in the snow.

    Keith Mayerson, Tiger in the Snow, 2007. Oil on linen, 21 1/4 × 31 1/4 in. (54 × 79.4 cm) framed. Collection of Nancy and Steve Lovett. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Spiderman.
    A painting of Spiderman.

    Keith Mayerson, Spiderman on the Roof, 2002. Oil on linen, 28 × 34 in. (71.1 × 86.4 cm). Collection of Carol Gonsalves. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of King Kong lying on the ground.
    A painting of King Kong lying on the ground.

    Keith Mayerson, King Kong, 2004. Oil on linen, 34 × 50in. (86.4 × 127 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a portrait of a man with a scary face.
    A painting of a portrait of a man with a scary face.

    Keith Mayerson, Buddy (Robot Gorilla), 2004. Oil on linen, 32 × 26 in. (81.3 × 66 cm). Collection of Steve DiBenedetto and Michelle Segre. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a sign saying: Police.
    A painting of a sign saying: Police.

    Keith Mayerson, Iconscape (Police), 1995. Oil on linen, 15 7/8 × 12in. (40.3 × 30.5 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a laughing Jesus Christ.
    A painting of a laughing Jesus Christ.

    Keith Mayerson, Jesus Christ Superstar (150017), 1996. Oil on canvas, 20 × 16in. (50.8 × 40.6 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Anne Frank's Wall.
    A painting of Anne Frank's Wall.

    Keith Mayerson, Anne Frank’s Wall, 2007. Oil on linen, 40 × 60 in. (101.6 × 152.4 cm). Collection of Zach Feuer. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Abraham Lincoln.
    A painting of Abraham Lincoln.

    Keith Mayerson, Abraham Lincoln, 2013. Oil on linen, 70 × 53 in. (177.8 × 134.6 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of circles in circles.
    A painting of circles in circles.

    Keith Mayerson, Untitled (Large Iconscape), 1997. Oil on linen, 50 × 60 in. (127 × 152.4 cm). Collection of Sir Fraser and Lady Morrison. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a view inside Radio City Music Hall.
    A painting of a view inside Radio City Music Hall.

    Keith Mayerson, The Dalai Lama Teaching the Diamond Cutter Sutra and Seventy verses on Emptiness at Radio City Music Hall Oct 14, 2007, 2008. Oil on linen, 50 × 66 in. (127 × 167.6 cm). Collection of Dana Schutz and Ryan Johnson. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A few men at a car crash scene.
    A few men at a car crash scene.

    Keith Mayerson, James Dean Crash Site, 2005. Oil on linen, 44 × 66 in. (111.8 × 167.6 cm). Collection of Louis Reese IV; promised gift to Los Angeles County Museum of Art. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a man who works at a gusher.
    A painting of a man who works at a gusher.

    Keith Mayerson, Gusher, 2005. Oil on linen, 60 × 44 in. (152.4 × 111.8 cm). Collection of Louis Reese IV; promised gift to Los Angeles County Museum of Art. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a building with a neon sign saying New Yorker.
    A painting of a building with a neon sign saying New Yorker.

    Keith Mayerson, The New Yorker, 2010. Oil on linen, 24 × 36 in. (61 × 91.4 cm).Collection of Rose and Morton Landowne. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a naked man in a tree.
    A painting of a naked man in a tree.

    Keith Mayerson, Love Triumphant (James Dean in a Tree), 2006. Oil on linen, 68 × 45in. (172.7 × 114.3 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Tin Tin finding an emerald in a tree.
    A painting of Tin Tin finding an emerald in a tree.

    Keith Mayerson, The Castafiore Emerald, 2007. Oil on linen, 32 × 24 in. (81.3 × 61 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Kermit the Frog riding a bike.
    A painting of Kermit the Frog riding a bike.

    Keith Mayerson, Gone with the Schwinn, 2007. Oil on linen, 37 1/2 × 25 1/2 in. (95.3 × 64.8 cm) framed. Collection of Dan and Jane Slavin. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Superman.
    A painting of Superman.

    Keith Mayerson, Superman, 2004. Oil on linen, 42 × 34in. (106.7 × 86.4 cm). Collection of Jack Heller. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Rosa Park and Martin Luther King, Jr.
    A painting of Rosa Park and Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Keith Mayerson, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., 2006. Oil on linen, 31 1/4 × 23 1/2 in. (79.4 × 59.7 cm) framed. Collection of Alan and Darryl Reichbart. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a person lying on bed and watching TV.
    A painting of a person lying on bed and watching TV.

    Keith Mayerson, Andrew and Obama, 2011. Oil on linen, 12 × 16in. (30.5 × 40.6 cm). Collection of Thomas Frontini, Cleveland; courtesy SHAHEEN Modern and Contemporary Art, Cleveland. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a man smelling flowers.
    A painting of a man smelling flowers.

    Keith Mayerson, Andrew Smelling the Flowers in the Proust Room, 2009. Oil on linen, 12 × 16in. (30.5 × 40.6 cm). Collection of Steven and Rosalie Litt, Cleveland; courtesy SHAHEEN Modern and Contemporary Art, Cleveland. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Marvin Gaye.
    A painting of Marvin Gaye.

    Keith Mayerson, What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye), 2005. Oil on linen, 36 × 42 in. (91.4 × 106.7 cm). Collection of Patrick Wallace, New York; courtesy SHAHEEN Modern and Contemporary Art, Cleveland. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a woman sitting in a study.
    A painting of a woman sitting in a study.

    Keith Mayerson, Louise Bourgeois at her Salon, 2008. Oil on linen, 42 × 30in. (106.7 × 76.2 cm). Private collection; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York . © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a sun shining over a city.
    A painting of a sun shining over a city.

    Keith Mayerson, Sunrise over Elsinore, 2011. Oil on linen, 48 × 48in. (121.9 × 121.9 cm).Collection of Joseph Arezone, Cleveland; courtesy SHAHEEN Modern and Contemporary Art, Cleveland. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Time Square at night.
    A painting of Time Square at night.

    Keith Mayerson, Times Square, 2011. Oil on linen, 48 × 66 in. (121.9 × 167.6 cm). Private collection, Cleveland; courtesy SHAHEENModern and Contemporary Art, Cleveland. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a kid is captured by an eagle.
    A painting of a kid is captured by an eagle.

    Keith Mayerson, The Abduction of Ganymede (Rescued from Eagle’s Nest), 2006. Oil on linen, 48 1/2 × 61in. (123.2 × 154.9 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of Elvis Presley singing.
    A painting of Elvis Presley singing.

    Keith Mayerson, Elvis ’56, 2006. Oil on linen, 60 × 60 in. (152.4 × 152.4 cm). Collection of Alison Katz Wolfson. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a woman with dramatic makeup.
    A painting of a woman with dramatic makeup.

    Keith Mayerson, Backstage at Dior, 2008. Oil on linen, 12 × 9 in. (30.5 × 22.9 cm). Private collection. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a model in pink walking down the runway.
    A painting of a model in pink walking down the runway.

    Keith Mayerson, Model in Pink, 2009. Oil on linen, 16 × 12in. (40.6 × 30.5 cm). Collection of Brett and Karen Shaheen, Cleveland; courtesy SHAHEEN Modern and Contemporary Art, Cleveland. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a selfie of two men.
    A painting of a selfie of two men.

    Keith Mayerson, Husbands (Andrew and I), 2011. Oil on linen, 36 × 48 in. (91.4 × 121.9 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a cabin at night.
    A painting of a cabin at night.

    Keith Mayerson, Night Cabin, 2011. Oil on linen, 48 × 36 in. (121.9 × 91.4 cm). Collection of Lawrence and Judith Howard. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a man walking a dog.
    A painting of a man walking a dog.

    Keith Mayerson, Radiant Landscape (with Andrew and the Dogs), 2011. Oil on linen, 26 × 26 in. (66 × 66 cm). Collection of Carole Server and Oliver Frankel. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of North America from Space.
    A painting of North America from Space.

    Keith Mayerson, North America from Space, 2012. Oil on linen, 26 × 46in. (66 × 116.8 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A drawing of 4 persons lying in one bed.
    A drawing of 4 persons lying in one bed.

    Keith Mayerson (b. 1966), My Family, 2013. Oil on linen, 56 x 70 in. © Keith Mayerson; courtesy the artist and Derek Eller Gallery, NY. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a man standing next to a bed.
    A painting of a man standing next to a bed.

    Keith Mayerson, Andrew in the Proust Room on Our 40th Birthdays, 2010. Oil on linen, 22 × 30 in. (55.9 × 76.2 cm). Private collection. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a man standing in front of a painting.
    A painting of a man standing in front of a painting.

    Keith Mayerson, Me in the Proust Room for Our 40th Birthdays, 2010. Oil on linen, 22 × 30 in. (55.9 × 76.2 cm). Collection of Irena Hochman. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a boat on a rolling sea.
    A painting of a boat on a rolling sea.

    Keith Mayerson, Clipper Ship “Comet”, 2007-2008. Oil on linen, 26 × 38 in. (66 × 96.5 cm). Private collection; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

  • A painting of a boy thinking.
    A painting of a boy thinking.

    Keith Mayerson, Blue boy (Ty Cashe), 1991. Oil and wax on wood, 28 × 28in. (71.1 × 71.1 cm). Collection of the artist; courtesy Derek Eller Gallery, New York. © Keith Mayerson. Photograph by Tom Powel Imaging

On the Hour

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Maya Man, A Realistic Day In My Life Living In New York City

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