Lester, King of the Imbeciles

Stranger Factory is the newest branch of the Circus Posterus family tree, a unique highly visible gallery located in Nob Hill just off the historically famous Route 66 (Central Ave) in the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico and is dedicated to bringing a new style of art to the area. With their worldwide network of talent, Stranger Factory will bring many incredible names in the post modern, pop surrealist and “lowbrow” art community for the very first time as well as offering aspiring art collectors the opportunity to begin their collections with original works and editioned releases at reasonable and retail-friendly prices. Stranger Factory is the official flagship retail outlet for all Circus Posterus goods including original artwork, limited edition prints and books, sculptural editions and apparel as well as other gifts, novelties, designer toys, and curious objects of beauty and wonder! Mixed media tends to refer to a work of visual art that combines various traditionally distinct visual art media. For example, a work on canvas that combines paint, ink, and collage could properly be called a "mixed media" work. When creating a painted or photographed work using mixed media it is important to choose the layers carefully and allow enough drying time between the layers to ensure the final work will have integrity. If many different media are used it is equally important to choose a sturdy foundation upon which the different layers are imposed. Many interesting effects can be achieved by using mixed media. Often, found objects are used in conjunction with traditional artist media, such as paints and graphite, to express a meaning in the everyday life. In this manner, many different elements of art become more flexible than with traditional artist media. Travis Louie’s paintings come from the tiny little drawings and many writings in his journals. He’s created his own imaginary world that is grounded in Victorian and Edwardian times. It is inhabited by human oddities, mythical beings, and otherworldly characters who appear to have had their formal portraits taken to mark their existence and place in society. The underlining thread that connects all these characters is the unusual circumstances that shape who they were and how they lived. Some of their origins are a complete mystery while others are hinted at. A man is cursed by a goat, a strange furry being is discovered sleeping in a hedge, an engine driver can’t seem to stop vibrating in his sleep, a man overcomes his phobia of spiders, etc, . . .Using inventive techniques of painting with acrylic washes and simple textures on smooth boards, he’s created portraits from an alternate universe that seemingly may or may not have existed.