From his home in the Chicago area, Alex Ross has revitalized classic superheroes into works of fine art for over 30 years, illustrating characters such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Storm from the X-Men, the Avengers, Black Panther, and many more.
One of the must-see events of the summer, the exhibition features over 50 pieces of original artwork by Ross, including artwork from his retrospective book, Marvelocity. The exhibition explores how Ross developed into a renowned illustrator from his childhood drawings to preliminary sketches, sophisticated paintings, and three-dimensional head busts of characters across the Marvel Universe.
NOMINATE AN EVERYDAY HERO
Starting on National Superhero Day (April 28, 2023), the museum welcomes community members to nominate everyday heroes to be celebrated with a custom drawing rendered in comic book style by local artist Ethan Colchamiro. Each week throughout the run of the exhibition, the museum will release a new everyday hero–whether an amazing grandma, brave firefighter, helpful neighbor, or others who make an impact in their community–on social media, via the museum’s website, and as a framed poster in the museum lobby. The first nomination honors Michael Gustafson, a young boy who died of brain cancer, for his “never give up” attitude and for providing a stunning example of what is possible in life. Nominations will be accepted online through July 15, 2023 at www.elmhurstartmuseum.org/exhibitions/marvelocity/.
SUPERHEROES IN WILDER PARK
In tandem with the exhibition, the Elmhurst Art Museum commissioned the outdoor public art installation Superheroes in Wilder Park that will be on view in the adjacent Wilder Park from May 6 – July 31, 2023 with an accompanying audio guide accessible via QR code about the inspiration behind each of the sculptures.
The 8 Superheroes in Wilder Park are currently in creation by 4 lead artists (Rafael Blanco, Studio Nez, Dave Pryor, and Charles Williams Jr.) and 4 youth groups led by the museum’s teaching artists. At multiple workshops the youth groups explored the history and evolution of superhero comics, character study, drawing and coloring techniques, and superhero character development with their final work painted on life-sized, stand-alone, wooden cutouts. The finished pieces were created by Robert Apolinar with Elmhurst University students, Esmeralda Bolivar with the Elmhurst Pride Collective, John Nester with Glenbard North High School students, and Gloria Rivera with B. Unity & F.O.C.U.O.S. members.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Advance registration is required for all related programming, free with exhibit admission or membership unless otherwise noted:
· Superhero Walking Tour
Saturday, May 20, 1:00pm
Tickets: $20
Museum staff and exhibiting artists lead a walking tour through Wilder Park to learn more about the current public art installation with insights into the artists’ inspiration, process, and bodies of work.
· Family Day: Exploring Superheroes
Saturday, June 24, 1:00 - 4:00pm
The museum invites families to get creative through superhero-themed hands-on art activities inspired by the works in Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross. Visitors can explore their own personal superpowers, create custom power cuffs and masks, learn figure drawing with costumed superheroes, and more.
· Costumed Figure Drawing Workshop
Saturdays, July 8, 15, 22, 29, 12:00 - 3:00pm
Workshop fee $90 per session
Every Saturday in July, the museum hosts superhero-themed life drawing workshops for teens (13+) and adults. Inspired by Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross, instructor Robert Apolinar will lead various drawing techniques, capturing the complexity of the human form and dynamic superhero costumes.
· Be Your Own Superhero Day
Sunday, July 16, 11:00am - 5:00pm
The museum welcomes visitors to creatively dress up as superheroes, personal avatars, or their favorite characters from the Marvel Universe for a day of superhero-themed fun, including exhibition viewing to themed music, giveaways, and a raffle.
· Family Day: Designing Your Hero
Saturday, July 22, 1:00 - 4:00pm
Families are invited to design a personal superhero inspired by the works found in Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross.
· Family Day: Marvel-ous Comic Creations
Saturday, August 12, 1:00 - 4:00pm
Kids can discover the power of storytelling through storyboard character design and illustration. Artists lead families through drawing and writing exercises that allow participants to discover their own unique voices through comic book creations.
ELMHURST ART MUSEUM STORE
This summer, the museum store will offer unique and one-of-a-kind items related to Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross, including the expanded edition of Marvelocity: The Marvel Comics of Alex Ross, which includes an original 10-page story featuring Spider-Man vs. the Sinister Six, plus contributions by Chip Kidd, Geoff Spear, and J.J. Abrams. In addition, the museum store will carry a limited number of hand-signed posters featuring Spider-Man, Captain America, and Hulk, and The Alex Ross Marvel Comics Poster Book. For aspiring comic artists, the museum store will offer a variety of drawing, how-to, coloring and activity books, as well as stickers, decals, magnets, tattoos, keychains, puzzles, quiz books, Marvel Universe guides, and more.
Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross is sponsored by Explore Elmhurst with additional support from the DuPage Foundation, Discover DuPage, the Illinois Office of Tourism, and Classic Cinemas. The exhibition was developed by the Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County, Illinois.
Superheroes in Wilder Park is presented by the Elmhurst Art Museum in partnership with the Elmhurst Park District. Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, DuPage Foundation, Discover DuPage, Kilwins, Lakeside Bank, Maxine, Phase Three Brewing, Reconciled Solutions, Kelly Stetler | Compass, and Total Window Treatments. Production support by DIT Workshops.
ABOUT ALEX ROSS
Once upon a time, there was a little boy who decided that drawing superheroes was his only realistic option, if he couldn’t actually become one. - Alex Ross
Born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Lubbock, Texas, Alex Ross made his artistic debut at three when, according to his mother, he grabbed a piece of paper and drew the contents of a television commercial he had seen moments before. By age 13 he was scripting and drawing original comic books. Ten years later, he was hired by Marvel Comics to illustrate Marvel's central characters in the comic book event, Marvels (1994).
Ross's work has celebrated the 60th anniversaries of Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, and Wonder Woman with fully painted, tabloid-sized books, depicting each of these characters using their powers to inspire humanity as well as help them. Ross’s hugely successful comic book series Kingdom Come (1996) is considered to have ushered the close of the “Dark Age” of comic books, in which pessimism, violence, and gritty stories ruled, into the birth of the “Modern Age” of optimism and strong superheroes. In addition to superhero projects, Ross created Uncle Sam, a 96-page story that took a hard look at the dark side of American history.
In recent years, Ross has applied his artistic skills to outside projects with comic book roots, including a limited-edition promotional poster for the Academy Awards. In 2015, Alex was chosen by Apple Corps LTD to be commissioned as the first artist in over 30 years to paint the Fab Four. Ross is a multi-year winner of the Comic Buyer's Guide Award for Favorite Painter.
ABOUT THE ELMHURST ART MUSEUM
The Elmhurst Art Museum is located at 150 South Cottage Hill Avenue in Elmhurst (IL), 25 minutes from downtown Chicago by car or public transportation (Metra). On the museum’s campus is the McCormick House, a single-family home designed in 1952 by Mies van der Rohe, one of the great architects of the 20th Century. The McCormick House is one of only three residences designed and built by Mies in the United States – and one of only two open to the public.
The Museum is open Wednesday and Thursday from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Friday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Regular admission prices are $18 for Adults (ages 18+), $15 for Seniors, $10 for Students, and $5 for Children. For more information, please call 630.834.0202 or visit elmhurstartmuseum.org.