Shag

Shag

Josh Agle (probably better known as Shag, a contraction of the last two letters of his first name and the first two letters of his last) is a painter, illustrator and designer working in Southern California. His initial intention to establish a career as a commercial illustrator was sidetracked when his original paintings began to garner considerable attention from galleries and collectors. Since his first solo gallery show in 1997, Shag has had successful solo exhibitions in the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia.
The paintings themselves celebrate consumerism and consumption on vividly colored, sharply rendered panels; the characters drink, smoke and eat in lavish, stylish surroundings. But Agle sees the visuals of his work as window-dressing or stage scenery. He’s more concerned with the narrative of the art. “Most of my paintings are set in the middle of a story or situation -- characters are interacting and reacting to each other and to outside events.” Agle doesn't offer too many clues about the stories, preferring that the viewer create his or her own narratives to fit the situations.
Currently Shag paints in a large studio with panoramic views of a wooded valley in the hills above L.A., part of a mid-century modern home which he shares with his wife and two children. He is currently creating paintings for upcoming exhibits in New York, Paris and Tokyo.