Rex Ray was an American artist best known for his innovative Pop aesthetic in fine and commercial art — on canvases, wood panels, album covers, paper, book jackets, murals, and rock and roll posters.
Born in Landstuhl, Germany in 1956, Michael Patterson was raised in Colorado Springs. Before moving to San Francisco in 1981, Patterson, inspired by Andy Warhol, adopted the moniker Rex Ray. He attended the San Francisco Art Institute where he studied with Sam Tchakalian, Kathy Acker, and Angela Davis, and received his BFA in 1989. He became a major force in the Bay Area’s art, literary, and activist communities.
Ray was one of the first artists to use Mac-based technologies in the creative process to generate art and graphics. His early designs include the first graphics for the San Francisco chapter of Act Up; many guerilla marketing flyers and posters for queer nightclubs; and numerous book covers for City Lights Books and HIGH RISK/Serpent’s Tail.
Ray's impressive client roster in the music, fashion, entertainment, and design industries, includes David Bowie, The Residents, Bill Graham Presents, DreamWorks, Levis, Neiman Marcus, Sony Music, Warner Brothers, and Apple. Rex Ray designs have been licensed and produced as distinctive imagery on scarves, carpets, ceramics, wristwatches, surfboards, and even on a Mini Cooper.
During his lifetime Rex Ray generated a prolific body of painting and works on paper. His technique involved a complicated process that combined Xerography, handmade woodblock prints, newsprint, and magazine images into vibrant color schemes with parabolic forms and abstract patterns. His works reference mid-century modernism, Dada, decorative arts, Fluxus, and Pop art deployments associated with Andy Warhol and continue to speak to ideas of beauty during eras known for post-modernist and Conceptual ideologies.
Ray’s work has been included in exhibitions at the Akron Art Museum, Berkeley Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and more. Several books including Cut & Paste, Rex Ray: Art + Design, and Information feature images with writings about his career and artistic practice.
Find Rex Ray art on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Lucille Khornak Gallery)
Mixed-Media and Resin Collage by Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A lovely example of Rex Ray’s graphic collage style. Rex Ray (1956-2015) was an American graphic designer and artist based in San Francisco. His work is in mus...
Resin, Wood, Paper
$6,250
Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A lovely example of Rex Ray’s graphic collage style. Rex Ray (1956-2015) was an American graphic designer and artist based in San Francisco. His work is in mus...
Resin, Wood, Paper
Mixed-Media and Resin Collage by Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A mixed-media and resin collage by Rex Ray, signed by the artist. USA, 2004.
Resin, Wood, Paper
Mixed-Media and Resin Collage by Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A mixed-media and resin collage by Rex Ray, untitled. Signed by the artist, USA, circa 2007.
Resin, Wood, Paper
1996 Oasis - San Francisco Original Vintage Poster
By Rex Ray
Located in Winchester, GB
This beautiful poster was created in 1996 to promote a live concert of Oasis at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. This tour marked the second attempt of the legendar...
Paper
$6,250
Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A mixed media and resin collage by Rex Ray, signed by the artist. USA, 2006.
Resin, Wood, Paper
1998 Beastie Boys - Portland Rose Garden Original Vintage Poster
By Rex Ray
Located in Winchester, GB
This beautiful vibrant poster is from the Beastie Boys concert at the Portland Rose Garden in 1998 with support from the likes of the great A Tribe Called Quest. The show saw the New...
Paper
1997 David Bowie - San Francisco Original Vintage Poster
By Rex Ray
Located in Winchester, GB
This brilliant poster is from David Bowie's 1997 concert at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, California. The show was in support of his album from the same year "Earthling" whi...
Paper
Mixed-Media and Resin Collage by Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A mixed-media and resin collage by Rex Ray, untitled. Signed by the artist, USA, circa 2007.
Resin, Wood, Paper
Mixed-Media and Resin Collage by Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A mixed media and resin collage by Rex Ray, signed by the artist. USA, 2007.
Resin, Wood, Paper
Mixed-Media and Resign Collage by Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A mixed-media and resign collage by Rex Ray, untitled. Signed by the artist, USA, circa 2004.
Resin, Wood, Paper
Mixed-Media and Resign Collage by Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A mixed-media and resign collage by Rex Ray, untitled. Signed by the artist, USA, circa 2005.
Resin, Wood, Paper
Mixed-Media and Resin Collage by Rex Ray
By Rex Ray
Located in San Francisco, CA
A mixed-media and resin collage by Rex Ray, signed by the artist. USA, 2007.
Resin, Wood, Paper
$3,000
H 31 in W 23.5 in D 1.13 in
Christo, Texas Mastra Project for 500, 000 Stacked Oil Drums, Signed Lithograph
By Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Located in St. Louis, MO
Christo (1935-2020) Bulgarian. The TEXAS MASTABA, PROJECT FOR 500,000 STACKED OIL DRUMS (S. 85), 1976, color lithograph & screenprint collage on 1/8” brown board, signed and numbered...
Acrylic, Paper
Abstract Modern Painting by Alessandro Bonato, 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
An acrylic painting on wood by Italian artist Alessandro Bonato, 1960s. This richly textured painting features hues of off-white, taupe, and soft aqua in an abstract geometric design...
Acrylic, Wood
Aboriginal Art Acrylic, Bush Plum Dreaming, By Polly Ngala 2021
By Polly Ngala
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning abstract painting by Australian Aboriginal artist Polly Ngala . Polly began her artistic career in 1970s. she often assisted her sisters Kathleen and the late Emily Kngwar...
Canvas, Wood
$1,040
H 20 in W 16 in D 3.08 in
Rachel Denny Collage Painting Photographic Mixed Media Art Piece, 2003
Located in Round Top, TX
A fine example of Rachel Denny's earlier works, a mixed media piece incorporating photography, wood salvage and a resin seal. Piece is displayed on a burlap board (included). Ms. De...
Burlap, Resin, Wood
Contemporary Verso Signed Abstract Oil on Canvas
Located in Sheffield, MA
Oil painting is composed of vibrant orange tones mingled with neutral brown and grey tones. Verso is titled and signed illegibly. Canvas measures approximate 20 inches squared in height and width. Signed original artwork, abstract Modernist art...
Canvas
$5,000Sale Price|28% Off
H 84 in W 96 in D 1 in
Vintage Roman Column 6 Panel Architectural Incised Privacy Screen Room Divider
Located in Wayne, NJ
Large decorative 6 Panel Architectural privacy screen room divider. Will go well with style decor . From Traditional to Modern. This is a heavy in weight piece. Many details are inc...
Brass
$1,870
H 27 in W 22.5 in D 3 in
David Cheng Hong Kong 1961 Portrait of Scholar with Opium Pipe Oil Painting
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
David Cheng Hong Kong, 1961: Portrait of Scholar with Opium Pipe Oil Painting A compelling mid-century portrait by Hong Kong artist David Cheng, signed and dated 1961 lower right, d...
Canvas, Wood
$175
H 12 in W 18 in D 0.004 in
"Flight" by Louis Shields Figurative Archival Print on Textured Watercolor Paper
By Louis Shields
Located in Middleburg, VA
Offered is an eye-catching limited edition archival print by artist Louis Shields, titled "Flight." Part of Shields' 2018 Dancer Series, this dynamic composition captures the fleetin...
Paper, Paint
Unique Reverso Room Divider by Draga & Aurel
By Draga & Aurel
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Reverso room divider by Draga & Aurel Price for each piece. Please contact us Unique piece Dimensions: W 29 H 271 Materials: Resin, po...
Brass
Sawtooth by Blue Tip Atelier
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Sawtooth ?Japan / 2019s Size : W 1640 x H 2050 mm A tribute to the traditional American quilt design made around 1840. Made with organic cotton, and indigo cotton in Alsace region ‘France. Hand dyed with chinese sumac and green leaf on the surface, and pomegranate on the back. [Blue Tip atelier...
Linen
Unique Vertigo Room Divider Module by Draga & Aurel
By Draga & Aurel
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Vertigo Room Divider by Draga & Aurel The published price corresponds to ONE (01) bar. Please contact us for full module quotations. Unique piece. Dimensions: W 30 D 10 H 200,...
Brass
$1,020
H 38.98 in W 26.38 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Poster Pamplona San Fermin 1953 Ferias Y Fiestas Festival Spain
Located in London, GB
Original vintage travel advertising poster for the 1953 San Fermin festival in Pamplona Spain on 6-20 July / Pamplona San Fermin de 1953 del 6 al 20 de Juli...
Paper
David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails Original US Concert Poster Proof, 1995
By Rex Ray
Located in Devon, GB
A rare uncut printer's proof poster by graphic designer and collage artist Rex Ray for a performance by David Bowie and Nine Inch Nails at the Shorelin...
Paper