Rodney Alan Greenblat is an American artist, graphic designer and children's book author. He was previously director of the Center for Advanced Whimsy,[2] is responsible for the character design of several video games, including the PaRappa the Rapper series,[3] and was an active figure in the East Village art scene of the 1980s.[4]
Rodney Alan Greenblat | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 23, 1960 |
| Education |
|
| Known for | |
| Notable work | Art and character design for the PaRappa the Rapper franchise |
| Movement | Neo-Surrealist |
| Website | whimsyload |
Work
editGreenblat's work was shown in East Village museums in the 1980s,[5] including the Gracie Mansion Gallery,[6][7] and was at the time considered part of a neo-surrealist movement.[8] Within the same decade, he did the artwork for New York-based alternative rock band They Might be Giants' first album.[9][10]
In the 2010s, he has been recognized for his work on Parappa the Rapper and Um Jammer Lammy, as well as the Thunder Bunny series of books.[11]
In 2017, he opened The Rodney Shop, a retail outlet and gallery in Catskill, New York.[12] The location closed in 2020.[13]
Computer and video games
edit- Rodney's Funscreen (Published by Activision, 1992, PC/Mac)
- Rodney's Wonder Window (Published by Voyager, 1992, PC/Mac)
- Dazzleoids (Published by Voyager, 1994, PC/Mac)
- PaRappa the Rapper (Published by Sony, 1996, PS1)
- Rodney's Funscreen 2 extreme (Published by Interlink, 1997, PC/Mac)
- Rodney's Artbrain (Published by Interlink, 1997, PC/Mac)
- Um Jammer Lammy (Published by Sony, 1999, PS1)
- PaRappa the Rapper 2 (Published by Sony, 2001, PS2)
- Major Minor's Majestic March (Published by Majesco Entertainment, 2009, Wii)
Solo exhibition history
edit1982
- The Threshold, Rodney Alan Greenblat. Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island[1]
1983
- Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, New York[1]
1984
- Time of Love. Galerie Anna Friebe, Cologne, Germany[1]
1985
- The New World. Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, New York[1]
- Suburban Utopias/Familiar Frontiers. Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia[1]
1986
- House of Progress. Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, New York
- The Tricentennial Room. Karl Bornstein Gallery, Los Angeles, California
1987
- Reality and Imagination; Two Taste Treats in One! Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Reality and Imagination; Two Taste Treats in One! Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, Texas
- The Scenic Route. Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, New York
1988
- Design Your Own Future. Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
1989
- John Berggruen Gallery, San Francisco, California
1990
- Cosmic Adhesive. Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, New York
1991
- The Center for Advanced Whimsy. Carpenter Arts Center, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
1992
- Land Ho! The Mythic World of Rodney A. Greenblat. Museum of Art, Roanoke, Virginia
- Land Ho! The Mythic World of Rodney A. Greenblat. Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Virginia
1993
- Technoweenie. PPOW, New York, New York
- Land Ho! The Mythic World of Rodney A. Greenblat. World Financial Center, New York, New York
1995
- Rodney Time. Creation Gallery G8, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
1996
- Rodney's Late Breakfast at Milk. Milk, Ebisu, Tokyo, Japan
1997
- Rodney Adventure. Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut
1998
1999
- Rodney’s Art in a Box. Sony Plaza, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan[14]
2000
- Rodney’s Character Club and Post Office Parco Department Store, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan[14]
- Cafe Rodney. Tokyo, Japan[14]
2001
- Canworld Expo. Takeshimaya Department Store, Osaka, Japan[14]
2005
- Modern Day. BCB Gallery, Hudson, New York[14]
2006
- Downtown – The New York Art Scene 1974-1984. Grey Art Gallery NYU, New York, New York
- Universe. Centella Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
2007
- Elemental. Art Print Japan Galleries, Tokyo, Japan
2008
- Free Wheel. BCB Gallery, Hudson, New York
2010
- Thunder Bunny Buddha Shrine. BCB Gallery, Hudson, New York[15]
2012
- Karma-con. The Rubin Museum, New York, New York
2013
- Gala Veinte!. Hudson Opera House, Hudson, New York[16]
- The Wonder Verified and Fulfilled. BCB Gallery, Hudson NY
2015
- Vibrant Space. BCB Gallery, Hudson, New York
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Buckley, John (1985). "Rodney Alan Greenblat" (PDF). Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "50 for the future". Newsweek. Vol. 125, no. 9. February 27, 1995. p. 42.
- ^ Zimmerman, Eric (June 1999). "Lamb rock: interview with Rodney A. Greenblat". The International Design Magazine. Vol. 46, no. 4. p. 98. ProQuest 214757949 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Rodney Alan Greenblat". Artnet. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ "Gracie Mansion". People. Vol. 24, no. 26. 1985. p. 112.
- ^ "Multiples & Objects & Books". The Print Collector's Newsletter. 17 (2): 62. 1986. ISSN 0032-8537. JSTOR 24552971.
- ^ Kirwin, Liza; Brown, Robert F.; Pacini, Marina; Karlstrom, Paul J.; Gustafson, Judith A. (1991). "Regional Reports". Archives of American Art Journal. 31 (3): 34–41. doi:10.1086/aaa.31.2.1557718. ISSN 0003-9853. JSTOR 1557611.
- ^ Westfall, Stephen (1985). "Surrealist Modes among Contemporary New York Painters". Art Journal. 45 (4): 315–318. doi:10.2307/776805. JSTOR 776805.
- ^ They Might Be Giants (Album notes). They Might Be Giants. Bar/None Records. 1986.
- ^ Flansburgh, John (May 3, 2012). "John Flansburgh: Observer Media" (Interview). Interviewed by Debbie Millman. Design Matters. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ^ Beg, Tom (February 6, 2012). "The Supplement: Rodney Alan Greenblat". University for the Creative Arts.
- ^ Waldron, Diana (August 22, 2018). "The Rodney Shop". Visit Vortex. High Falls, New York.
- ^ "The Rodney Shop". Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Greenblat, Rodney Alan". Wave-I. Seoul, Republic of Korea. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "Galleries & museums". Chronogram. Kingston, New York: Jason Stern. September 2013. p. 69.
- ^ "Museums & galleries". Chronogram. Kingston, New York: Jason Stern. December 2010. p. 38.