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Josh Agle, known professionally as Shag (stylized as SHAG), is a contemporary artist widely known for his distinctive style that captures the essence of mid-century modernism and retro pop culture. With his vibrant colors, bold designs, and playful characters, SHAG has become an icon in the world of modern art. Recently, his “L.A. Modern (Day)” from 2005, sold for $20,000 at John Moran Auctioneers.
Courtesy John Moran Auctioneers
Growing up in Southern California, SHAG developed a deep appreciation for the architecture, design and fashion of the 1950s and 1960s. In the early 1990s the artist established his distinct style, drawing inspiration from Palm Springs culture, mid-century modern design, Tiki culture, cocktail lounges and vintage advertising. He created a universe of characters, often depicted in glamorous and whimsical settings, exuding an air of sophistication and mystery.
With his masterful use of flat colors and sharp lines, SHAG’s art transports viewers into a retro-futuristic world that feels simultaneously nostalgic and contemporary.
An art reviewer at the New York Times wrote of Agle: “On wide panels in neon-candy colors and in a style simulating semiabstract cartoons of the early 1960s, he paints funny, curiously touching suburban pastorals. Modern, mostly glass houses are nestled in bucolic landscapes; suave men in tuxedos and beautiful women in evening dresses and bikinis pose indoors and out in states of perfect composure. The paintings resemble illustrations for Playboy when that publication embodied, for many American men, dreams of ultimate hedonistic fulfillment.”
