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Image 1 of 1
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Image 1 of 1
Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
16”x 20”
Darren Vorel is a multi-medium artist and creative director living and working in Los Angeles, California. Deeply rooted in both the visual arts and music scenes, his work spans traditional and contemporary art. Darren's paintings have been exhibited at the prestigious La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles and Seventh Corner Gallery in Chicago, as well as on the road with major traveling exhibitions, including the final NOFX tour (2024), Riot Fest (2024), and the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas (2023).
Artist Statement:
"Growing up, Pee-wee was never not on the TV—at my house, my friends' houses, and anywhere else I could catch it. From a very early age, I was hyper-aware of the wonder and joy he offered through his imagination and unapologetic creativity. It absolutely helped shape my young mind and the artist I was destined to become.
I painted 'Welcome To The Place Where Anything Can Happen' by incorporating the specific Playhouse characters I loved most as a kid. While I loved the entire cast, these were the ones that truly stuck with me through the years.
I recently screened six original episodes at Grauman's Chinese Theatre for the Netflix Is A Joke festival and fell in love all over again. Watching the kids in the audience roar at the 'Secret Word of the Day' and laugh along at every adventure—the exact same way I did at their age—proved that Pee-wee’s Playhouse is a magic that never grows old.
As an adult and an artist, I now see how brilliantly these aesthetics and characters were dreamt up. From the beatnik jazz musicians of the Playhouse Puppet Band to the '50s-style bully, Randy, so many historical and counter-culture traits were carefully crafted into each puppet to solidify their personalities and mannerisms.
I’ve always been a massive fan of the show's groundbreaking art direction and design. I deliberately incorporated elements of that aesthetic into the typography and color palette of this piece, creating a nostalgic, fun mix of movement and playfulness in the space between the characters."
Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
16”x 20”
Darren Vorel is a multi-medium artist and creative director living and working in Los Angeles, California. Deeply rooted in both the visual arts and music scenes, his work spans traditional and contemporary art. Darren's paintings have been exhibited at the prestigious La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles and Seventh Corner Gallery in Chicago, as well as on the road with major traveling exhibitions, including the final NOFX tour (2024), Riot Fest (2024), and the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas (2023).
Artist Statement:
"Growing up, Pee-wee was never not on the TV—at my house, my friends' houses, and anywhere else I could catch it. From a very early age, I was hyper-aware of the wonder and joy he offered through his imagination and unapologetic creativity. It absolutely helped shape my young mind and the artist I was destined to become.
I painted 'Welcome To The Place Where Anything Can Happen' by incorporating the specific Playhouse characters I loved most as a kid. While I loved the entire cast, these were the ones that truly stuck with me through the years.
I recently screened six original episodes at Grauman's Chinese Theatre for the Netflix Is A Joke festival and fell in love all over again. Watching the kids in the audience roar at the 'Secret Word of the Day' and laugh along at every adventure—the exact same way I did at their age—proved that Pee-wee’s Playhouse is a magic that never grows old.
As an adult and an artist, I now see how brilliantly these aesthetics and characters were dreamt up. From the beatnik jazz musicians of the Playhouse Puppet Band to the '50s-style bully, Randy, so many historical and counter-culture traits were carefully crafted into each puppet to solidify their personalities and mannerisms.
I’ve always been a massive fan of the show's groundbreaking art direction and design. I deliberately incorporated elements of that aesthetic into the typography and color palette of this piece, creating a nostalgic, fun mix of movement and playfulness in the space between the characters."