It’s good taste versus not good taste. I realized that I wasn’t naturally born to good taste. – Jim Shaw
For over three decades, Jim Shaw’s multidisciplinary practice has produced works in painting, drawing, installation, sculpture, and video that delve into notions of spirituality, power, and history. Found images from popular culture appear often in his work, seen here in a pair of cartoon bags full of gold coins. The stylized way they are sculpted indicates a glamourized, absurdly goofy version of wealth. And though “money bags” is a name used to refer to an ostentatious, wealthy person, it is odd (and hilarious) to see a pair of actual money bags in the flesh. Shaw currently lives and works in Los Angeles. Recent solo museum exhibitions of his work include Jim Shaw: The End is Near at the New Museum in 2015 and The Wig Museum at the Marciano Art Foundation in 2017.