Anthony Ausgang was born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1959 to a Dutch mother and Welsh father. The family moved to Houston Texas in the early 1960s, a particularly difficult time for an immigrant family to parse American culture. Nevertheless, Ausgang's father made brave attempts to assimilate by attending custom car shows and demolition derbies. Ausgang eventually encountered Ed Roth and before long had a shoebox full of Rat Finks, a small plastic figurine of a noxious rodent that had somehow become the embodiment of Hot Rod and Custom Car Culture. Ausgang's mother continued the European traditions by dragging her son to endless operas, symphonies and art museums. This combination of High Art and Low Art was to prove a fertile cultural mulch for Ausgang's artistic inclinations. After a short stint studying art at The University Of Texas in Austin, Ausgang succumbed to the myth of California and moved to Los Angeles where he began classes at The Otis Art Institute. Disappointed to find out that the curriculum there didn't include target practice, admiring cars or watching surf films, Ausgang dropped out to start showing his artwork to as many galleries as would tolerate his frequent visits. Finally accepted by the infamous Zero One Gallery, a combination of after hours nightclub, gallery and crashpad, he had his first official sale, to a drug dealer. At his solo show later that year Ausgang sold to a more diverse and socially acceptable crew as collectors and critics began to take notice. At the Zero One Ausgang met Robert Williams, who had been one of the main forces at Roth Studios in the 1960's and at this time was the most successful practitioner of the type of art that would later be called Low Brow. As the "official" artworld began to accept Ausgang's work so did the commercial artworld and he began making record covers and posters and working as a consultant on computer generated animation. In 1993 Ausgang was included in the Laguna Beach Art Museum's seminal exhibit "Kustom Kulture" which investigated art influenced by gearhead car culture. In 2003 Ausgang's paintings could be seen in Morning Wood, a primer of Post Graf art; in 2004 his work graced the pages of contemporary art survey Pop Surrealism and in 2005 Weirdo Deluxe explained his art to the unenlightened. Ausgang draws influence from as many outside channels as possible, preferring the toy contents of grocery store gumball machines over the latest exhibit at the Whitney. Opinionated but informed, he is able to see the beauty in both a Rembrandt and a rat rod. This variety of interest has led him to design his artwork on the computer but complete it on the easel, the perfect combination of new technology and traditional media.

Ausgang now shows regularly in Amsterdam, Holland and Bologna, Italy. Commercial clients include the Boredoms (Warner) in Japan and Apollo 440 (Sony) in England. Collectors include Nicholas Cage, David Arquette and Perry Farrell.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

ANDERSON, KIRSTEN. POP SURREALISM, LAST GASP

AMATULLO, MARIANA. THE CHILD WITHIN, INNOCENCE AND ANXIETY IN CONTEMPORARY ART, EXHIBITION CATALOGUE, 1999

BUICK, SUNNY. SCI-FI WESTERN ART, LAST GASP

COLBURN, BOLTON. KUSTOM KULTURE, LAST GASP OF SAN FRANCISCO

DELIO, MICHELE. LOONY TUNES AND OTHER MYSTERIOUS MELODIES", ART ALTERNATIVES, VOL.2, ISSUE 4, 1994

GASTMAN, ROGER. MORNING WOOD, GINKO PRESS

KRAEMER, OLAF. "CAR CRAZY", DISCOVERY MAGAZINE, CATHAY PACIFIC AIRLINES, JULY 1995

MCCORMICK, CARLO. "OPEN SPACE AT HIGH VELOCITY", JUXTAPOZ MAGAZINE, #45

MCINTOSH, MARTIN. TABOO: THE ART OF TIKI, OUTRE GALLERY PRESS

MCKENNA, KRISTINE. "TOONS IN TRASH", LA TIMES, APRIL 26, 1991

MIKULAN, STEVEN, "ANTHONY AUSGANG'S WILD KINGDOM", JUXTAPOZ EROTICA, #6, 1999

NASH. " AUSGANG: ARTIST AND HOTROD", CAL MAGAZINE, #2, 1999

PAGEL, DAVID. "THE DARK SIDE", LA TIMES, JUNE 27, 1996

PAGEL, DAVID. "ANIMATED", LA TIMES, AUGUST 14, 1998

PETRUCCI, LISA. "ANTHONY AUSGANG", AXCESS MAGAZINE, VOL 2, NO.1, 1994

PFOUTS, CHRIS. "VACATION FROM REALITY", INTERNATIONAL TATTOO ART, MARCH 1997

SCARBOROUGH, JAMES. "THE AESTHETICS OF LANGUOR", VISIONS, WINTER 1991

URBAN, HOPE. "ANTHONY AUSGANG" YOUR FLESH MAGAZINE, #32, JUNE 1996

URBAN, HOPE. "AUSGANG", JUXTAPOZ, WINTER, 1996

WALSH, DANIELLA. "LAX 94", ARTWEEK, FEBRUARY 1995

YAZDANI, TARSSA. "ANTHONY AUSGANG: BLOWING THE DOORS OFF TRADITION", HYPNO MAGAZINE, VOL.5, ISSUE 3, 1996

RESUME:

BORN: POINT-A-PIERRE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, WEST INDIES

RESIDENT: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA

EDUCATION: THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN , TEXAS
OTIS ART INSTITUTE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

SELECTED MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS:

2009 “APOCALYPSE WOW!”, MACRO FUTURE, ROME, ITALY

2008 “IN THE LAND OF RETINAL DELIGHTS, THE JUXTAPOZ FACTOR”.
LAGUNA ART MUSEUM, LAGUNA BEACH. CA.

2006 “POWER PATHOS”, THE STATION MUSEUM, HOUSTON, TX.

2006 “RAT FINK’S REVENGE:. PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM,
LOS ANGELES, CA.

2001 “CUSTOMIZED AND CONVERTED: THE ART OF THE AUTOMOBILE”.
SANGRE DE CHRISTO ARTS CENTER, PUEBLO, CO.

2000 “LOWBROW ART: UP FROM THE UNDERGROUND”, ART AND
CULTURE CENTER, HOLLYWOOD, FL.

1994 “KUSTOM KULTURE”, THE LAGUNA ART MUSEUM, L.B., CA.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2011 “ATTENTION AUSGANG!”, ANTONIO COLOMBO, MILAN, ITALY

2010 “ABSTRACT FABLES”, COPRO GALLERY, L.A., CA.

2008 LIMITED ADDICTION GALLERY, DENVER, COLORADO

2007 “ILL MORPHOLOGY”, COPRO NASON GALLERY, L.A., CA.

2006 “POWER PATHOS”, STATION MUSEUM, HOUSTON, TEXAS
“THE CHESHIRE NIHILIST”, FUSE GALLERY, NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.

2005 “SURREAL POPULISM”, THE SHOOTING GALLERY, SAN FRANCISCO, CA.

2004 “DOUBLE TROUBLE”, COPRONASON GALLERY, L.A., CA.

2004 “AUSGANG”, GALERIE RUDOLFV, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

2003 "ANTHONY AUSGANG", GALERIE RUDOLFV, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

2002 "ANTHONY AUSGANG: NEW PAINTINGS", ROQ LA RUE GALLERY, SEATTLE WA.

2000 "CATSCAPES", KANTOR GALLERY, L.A., CA.

1999 "WHY WALK WHEN YOU CAN DRIVE?", C POP GALLERY, DETROIT, MI.

1998 "AUTOBIOPSY", MERRY KARNOWSKY GALLERY, LA., CA.

1998 "THE ATM SHOW", MAX FISH, NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.

1996 "CAR PHONE SEX IN THE FAST LANE", ZERO ONE GALLERY, LA, CA.

1995 "AUSGANG", BESS CUTLER GALLERY, NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.

1994 "THE MAD DASH", SYSTEM M GALLERY, LONG BEACH, CA.

1993 "LOONEY VIRTUES", JULIE RICO GALLERY, SANTA MONICA, CA.

1992 "NINTH LIFE", BESS CUTLER GALLERY, SANTA MONICA, CA.

1991 "MANIC ACTION", ZERO ONE GALLERY, HOLLYWOOD, CA.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2012 “ARTEFIERA BOLOGNA 2012”, BOLOGNA, ITALY

2011 “STREET ‘N LOW”, ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY, L.A., CA.

          “BEYOND EDEN:, BARNSDALL PARK, L.A., CA.

2010 “A CRY FOR HELP”, THINKSPACE GALLERY, L.A., CA.

2009 “VIVISECT: THE FINAL PLAYSET”, GALLERY 1988, L.A., CA.

“IT’S ALL ABOUT CPOP”, CPOP GALLERY, DETROIT, MI.

“HI•FRUCTOSE”, COPRO GALLERY. L.A., CA.

2008 "DISMORPHIC VISUALIZATION SYNDROME", 01 GALLERY, L.A., CA.

"CARNIVORA: THE DARK ART OF THE AUTOMOBILE, CPOP GALLERY, DETROIT, MICHIGAN

"ANNIVERSARY SHOW", LIMITED ADDICTION GALLERY, DENVER, COLORADO.

2007 “I AM 8 – BIT”, GALLERY 1988. LOS ANGLES, CA.

“ELEVATION”, LIMITED ADDICTION, DENVER, COLORADO

“LITERARTISTRY”, COREY HELFORD GALLERY, L.A., CA.

“BEYOND THE CEL”, MESA ART CENTER, MESA. ARIZONA

2006 “DON’T WAKE DADDY”, GALERIE FEINKUNST KRUGER, HAMBURG, GERMANY

“JUXTAPOZ”, OX-OP, MINNEAPOLIS, MN.

“PICK OF THE HARVEST”, THINKSPACE GALLERY, L.A., CA.

“THE VIVISECT PLAYSET”, GALLERY 1988, L.A., CA.

2005 “ART IN THE DARK”, LA-LA LAND GALLERY, HOLLYWOOD, CA.

“VINYL KLASH 2”, CPOP GALLERY, DETROIT, MI.

2004 “KRAMPUS”, COPRO NASON GALLERY, L.A., CA.

“INAGADDADAVIDA, BABY”, WESTERN PROJECT, L.A., CA.

“MODERN LOVE”, MMODERN GALLERY. PALM SPRINGS, CA.

2003 "ED ROTH TRIBUTE SHOW", COPRO/NASON GALLERY, L.A., CA.

"BUILT FOR SPEED", TH'INK TANK GALLERY, DENVER, CO.

2002 "HOT RODS AND HOT BODS", GALLERY BINK, PORTLAND OR.

"SELECTIONS FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION", COPRO/NASON GALLERY, CULVER CITY, CA.

"A THOUSAND CLOWNS, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW", ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY, SANTA MONICA, CA.

"JUXTAPOZ MAGAZINE 8TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW", TRACK 16 GALLERY, SANTA MONICA, CA.

2001 "NEUROTICA", HOLLY MATTERS GALLERY, L.A., CA."CONVERTED: THE ART OF THE AUTOMOBILE", SANGRE DE CHRISTO ARTS

CENTER, PUEBLO, COLORADO "ART PARTS", MONDO BIZZARRO GALLERY, BOLOGNA, ITALY

2000 "LOWBROW ART: UP FROM THE UNDERGROUND", ART AND CULTURE CENTER, HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA

1999 "THE TIKI SHOW", HUNTINGTON BEACH ART CENTER, L.A., CA.

"POP SURREALISM", MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, WASHINGTON DC

"A BUNCH OF PUSSIES", NILS KANTOR GALLERY, L.A., CA.

1998 "VEHICLES TRANSCENDING THE MILLENIUM", GALLERY 825, LOS ANGELES, CA.

1997 "CALIVERA KUSTOM", MERRY KARNOWSKY GALLERY, L.A., CA.

"LORDS OF LOWBROW", OZONE GALLERY, N.Y.C., N.Y.

"UNHOLY LUST", TODD KAPLAN GALLERY, L.A., CA.

"THE TIKI SHOW", LA LUZ DE JESUS GALLERY.L.A.,CA.

"GROUP SHOW", MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, WASHINGTON, DC

"KUSTOM KULTURE", C.O.C.A., SEATTLE, WA.

"BRAD BENEDICT'S SIDE SHOW", TAMARA BANE GALLERY, LA, CA.

"BEST OF THE WEST", ZERO ONE GALLERY. HOLLYWOOD, CA.

1993 "KUSTOM KULTURE", LAGUNA ART MUSEUM, LAGUNA BEACH, CA

"GRAF/X, FINE ARTS FROM THE UNDERGROUND", BESS CUTLER GALLERY, NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.

"THE CONTEMPORARY PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE", CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY, ORANGE, CA.

"I THOUGHT CALIFORNIA WOULD BE DIFFERENT", LAGUNA ART ART MUSEUM, LAGUNA BEACH, CA.

"SYNTHETIC HISTORY", PARKER ZANIC GALLERY, L.A., CA.

ART IN THE COLLECTIONS OF:

DAVID ARQUETTE
SONIC BOOM
NICHOLAS CAGE
JOSI COTTON
GREG ESCALANTE
PERRY FARRELL
GISELA GETTY
TIMOTHY LEARY
MARK MOTHERSBAUGH
JIM THIRWELL
MAURICE TUCHMAN
FAUSTO VITELLO

CLIENTS INCLUDE:

APOLLO 440 (SONY MUSIC U.K.)
ALL GOOD THINGS (JAPAN)
THE BIG PIXEL (USA)
BODYBOARDING MAGAZINE (USA)
COLUMBIA/SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT INC. (USA)
CRANK 2 0  HIGH SPEED PRODUCTIONS (USA)
DAVID LEE ROTH
KINGDOM RECORDS (USA)
LA WEEKLY
LOLLAPALOOZA (USA)
MTV (USA)
MUTATO MUZIKA (USA)
PUCCI GIACOMO (ITALY)
SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY (USA)
TSOL (USA)
TOWER RECORDS INC. (USA)
THE WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL (USA)
TOWER RECORDS (USA)
THE WARLOCKS (BOMP! RECORDS)
WARNER MUSIC (JAPAN)