Todd Schorr. The Spectre of Cartoon Appeal, 2000. Acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of Mark Parker. © Todd Schorr

DISCUSION QUESTIONS

• What do you think the title of this painting

means? How does it relate to the imagery?

• What statement do you think Todd Schorr

is trying to make with this painting?

• Todd Schorr includes himself in this

painting in the bottom center. Why do you

think he painted himself so small?

• Why do you think the artist uses humor in

his work?

RESOURCES *Teachers, be sure to

check the appropriateness before showing to

students.

• Artist Website: http://toddschorr.com/

• Artist Interview:

https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/magazine/anatomy-of-a-painting-todd-schorr-s-liquid-universe/

• Artist Interview: https://arrestedmotion.com/2009/03/interview-todd-schorr/

MINI LESSON

• Todd Schorr’s works tend to be autobiographical.

They tell you something about the artist. For

example, The Spectre of Cartoon Appeal shows

the cartoon characters the artist watched as a

child.

• If you were going to create a work of art that told

viewers something about yourself, what imagery

would you include? Why? How?

• Create an autobiographical work of art and share

with your classmates.

2200 Parks Avenue | Virginia Beach, VA 23451

757-425-0000 | www.VirginiaMOCA.org

For more information or to book a tour contact

Rebecca Davidson, Manager of School and

Educator Programs at Rebecca@VirginiaMOCA.org

or 757-425-0000 x323.

Todd Schorr

“I was a nervous, high-strung child, and my

mind was filled with a constantly shifting

and swirling vortex of imagery in unnatural

juxtapositions and combinations– pretty

much the very definition of the word

‘surrealism’ in Webster’s Dictionary”

-Todd Schorr

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Todd Schorr grew up in suburban New Jersey. He earned a degree in Illustration from the Philadelphia College of Art (now

called the University of the Arts). Soon after graduating he moved to New York City to pursue a career as an illustrator. His work

can be found on magazine covers, album covers and movie posters. Eventually, Schorr left the world of commercial art to focus

on painting. Todd Schorr: Atomic Cocktail at Virginia MOCA is the first solo exhibition of his work in almost 10 years.

Todd Schorr: Atomic Coctail is a mix of Schorr’s iconic paintings, new works, sculpture, and preparatory studies. Many of the

works in this exhibition are autobiographical. They give viewers an insight into the pop cultural influences on the artist. . Often

there is humor infused in the art, sometime light-hearted, sometimes sarcastic and biting. Schorr’s use of humor, with and edge,

is part what makes his works approachable, and at the same time loaded. Schorr brings up the issues of mass consumerism

and the all-consuming visual culture in which we live.