Outside In: Inside Billy Shire’s Archive at the Torrance Art Museum

OUTSIDE IN: The Billy Shire Archive

This exhibition explores the rise of ‘low-brow’ and pop-surrealist art, originating in the vibrant counter-culture scenes of Los Angeles in the late 1960s. Influenced by underground comix, tiki, surf culture, hot-rods, and rock music, this genre evolved into a distinctive movement combining aspects of outsider art, cartoons, religious iconography, and more. The exhibition honors the legacy of Billy Shire, a key figure in the movement who established the La Luz de Jesus Gallery in 1986 and supported the artists who shaped this genre. The works on display trace how lowbrow art, once on the fringe, has moved into the mainstream and has influenced contemporary culture globally.

Artists on Exhibit:

Aaron Marshall; Al Farrow; Alex De Leon; Ana Bagayan; Billy Shire; Carrie Ann Baade; Chris Mars; Christopher Bales; Christopher Clayton; Christopher Ulrich; COOP; Daniel Martin Diaz; Daniel Peacock; Dave Cooper; Deadra Sullivan Beeman; Dennis Larkins; Dianne Bennett; Don Fritz; Eric White; Frank Kozik; Gaile Potacki; Gary Panter; GeorgeAnne Dean; Glenn Barr; Henry Shire; Hudson Marquez; Jessica Joslin; Jim Heimann; Joe Coleman; Joe Sorren; Jon Langford; Judith Schaechter; Laurie Lipton; Liz McGrath; Lou Beach; Manuel O’Campo; Marion Peck; Mark Gleason; Maryrose Crook; Matthew Couper; Michael Hussar; Mikal Winn; Miriam Wosk; Neon Park; Norbert H. Kox; Octavio Ocampo; Owen Smith; Pizz; Pol Turgeon; R. K. Sloane; Rob Clayton; Robert Williams; S. Clay Wilson; Scott Hove; Scott Muskgrove; Shawn Barber; Tony Fitzpatrick; Wayne Martin Belger; Win Wallace