Travis Louie at The Shooting Gallery in San Francisco.

New York portrait painter Travis Louie exhibits his artwork at The Shooting Gallery opening October 13, 2007.
http://TravisLouie.artroof.com
The show, "Mirror Mirror on the Wall" presented new works by Travis Louie, Kris Lewis, and Kukula. Justin Giarla, the gallery's owner, and Travis graciously permitted me to shoot.
http://ShootingGallerySF.com
Travis flew from home town NY to SF for the opening, reuniting a clutch of collectors with lost family mutant portraits. Additionally, the backroom, side gallery and upstairs bristled with eye splitting and mind bending artwork from many others; a testament to Justin Giarla's predilection for provocation.

Bay artist Isabel Samaras speaks with Travis about his uncanny painting--an actual portrait of Travis's artist friend, "an artist's artist," who illustrates classic stories, one being "The Last of the Mohicans."

Travis told me he has thought of hiring an actor to represent him at openings, as he has demophobia, or enochiophobia.
On Oct.17, Travis blogs,
"I think I need to take a few days off, . . . the show went well.
I'm getting a little better at going to openings and talking to people, . . .most people don't know I have a phobia/fear of being in rooms with lots of people, . . .I get anxious"
http://TravisLouie.blogspot.com
Someone sticking a camera in his face is probably his worst nightmare; additionally I've blown his cover. Fortunately he seems forgiving. It was a pleasure meeting a modern master of the odd.

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Tags:

• Shooting
• Gallery
• Justin
• Giarla
• Bay
• artist
• Kukula
• Isabel
• Samaras
• surreal
• art
• painting

[joeprescher]

I want to sculpt your work.

[doforanimals]

This art is so AWESOME. I love the pairing of the stiff and proper Victorian subjects in old-fashioned frames with the crazily surrealistic heads of these 'creatures' quite willing to smile for their portrait. Love the juxtaposition, dark humor and beautiful technique. Original and masterful. Love it. Thanks for posting this!!!

[JamesSurvivalGuide]

This guy rocks!

[frapperito]

I LOVE LOOUUIISSS!!

XD