The intricately rendered celebrity portraits constructed by San Francisco-based artist Jason Mecier intend not merely to capture the look of his subjects, but their true essence. He often achieves this by using items once owned by them in his mosaics. But barring being able to “paint” without any personal possessions, the fall-back medium becomes things you might associate with his subjects, for instance, Rachael Ray done in pasta and beans or Courtney Love rendered in… pills!

Brand X caught up to Mecier as he was putting the finishing touches on his upcoming show.

When did you first hit on your signature use of found objects and personal effects for your unique portraiture?

I started about 15 years ago doing beans and noodle portraits of my favorite celebrities. Then moved to yarn, candy, pills, and finally about five years ago, I decided that absolutely everything was up for consideration as art supplies. One Thanksgiving, my partner was frantically looking for the turkey baster, and I had to fess up that I had glued it onto my Helen Gurley Brown portrait! I’m always getting busted like that. Nothing is safe in my house.

Did you do anything similar when you were a little kid? There’s such a playful element to your work that I can’t help wondering if your distinct style has childhood roots in things like making American flags out of macaroni, like I did in grade school.

When I was young, I remember being mesmerized by my grandma’s paintings, weaving, mosaics, sculptures, collages and stained glass work that filled my grandparents’ house and yard. If she was working on an art project, she would set me up at a nearby table with a project of my own to work on. One of my earliest pieces is a mosaic made from beans, noodles, rocks and cut bamboo sticks glued on a piece of wood. My grandmother encouraged me to create my masterpieces using materials readily available to me. She would rather paint on the back of her cigarette cartons than buy a canvas. I learned from her that I can make art out of anything I want to, and that there are no rules.

I heard that your portrait of Lady Gaga was made from some items left behind at one of her photo shoots? How did you get your hands on swag like that? 

I had an art piece in the big Hello Kitty 35th anniversary art show a few months ago, and a friend—who wishes to remain nameless, obviously—collected a bunch of the Hello Kitty leftovers from her photo shoots for me.

In many respects, there is a commonality with the religious reliquaries created of the Catholics saints, where they would frame the paintings with pieces of their actual bones, and your work. Is this conscious on your part? Are the portraits some kind of pop culture reliquaries?

I suppose it is a similar sort of a hero worship. Once I realized that celebrities would actually send me their junk, I haven’t slowed down. There’s something about the process and having a connection or brief relationship with the subject that thrills me. The idea of using their personal belongings as art supplies makes the art piece so personal and one of a kind. And I know they’re really fun for people to look at.

What are your top favorites of your celebrity portraits and why?

I generally gravitate toward the people who are really recognizable or iconic. … People who have a built-in “theme”—like Elvira—or are almost cartoon-like—like Elvira—but I’m all over the map. The portraits of Donald Trump, Kathy Griffin, Lady Gaga, Stevie Nicks, Parker Posey, Farrah Fawcett, Margaret Cho and Nicolas Cage are some of my favorites. I think they’re the most successful when I feel like I’ve captured the essence of their perceived public image.

What is the single strangest piece of junk you have ever received from a celebrity?

The highlights include Heidi Fleiss’ moldy slippers, Phyllis Diller’s prescription anti-itch creams, Parker Posey’s night guard and Barbi Benton’s retainer from high school. Jane Wiedlin’s leaking black Clairol hair dye applicator. Kathy Najimy’s Dexatrim was a good one. Ricki Lake’s very own compact travel tampon. Florence Henderson’s “key to the city” and silver pumps! I have a cigarette butt from “Dawn Wiener” [“Welcome to the Dollhouse” actress Heather Matarazzo]. Tori Spelling sent me two dildos, and I also have a bag of Pam Anderson’s dirty laundry.

How many of your subjects own the work themselves?

Rosie O’Donnell, Parker Posey, Pink, Ricki Lake, Kathy Najimy, Elvira, Susan Tyrrell, Allee Willis and Tura Satana from “Faster, Pussycat, Kill! Kill!” the Russ Meyer movie. Mary Louise Parker is next on my list. I hear the box of junk is coming!

Maybe you should render her in rolling papers and used roaches.

There you go!

Ghettogloss presents Celebrity Junk Drawer: The Art of Jason Mecier, March 17, 8 p.m.
 

 
Cross posting this from Brand X