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Rodney Alan Greenblat

{{Short description|American artist (born 1960)}}

{{Infobox artist

| name = Rodney Alan Greenblat

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|8|23}}

| birth_place = Daly City, California

| death_date =

| death_place =

| field = {{Ubl|Illustration|fine art}}

| education = {{ubl|item_style={{longitem}}|Corcoran School of Art (1978)|School of Visual Arts (1978–1982)}}

| movement = Neo-Surrealist

| works = Art and character design for the PaRappa the Rapper franchise

| patrons =

| awards =

| website = {{URL|whimsyload.com}}

}}

Rodney Alan Greenblat is an American artist, graphic designer and children's book author. He was previously director of the Center for Advanced Whimsy,{{Cite magazine |date=February 27, 1995 |title=50 for the future |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=9502237605&site=eds-live&scope=site |magazine=Newsweek |page=42 |volume=125 |issue=9}} is responsible for the character design of several video games, including the PaRappa the Rapper series,{{Cite magazine |last=Zimmerman |first=Eric |date=June 1999 |title=Lamb rock: interview with Rodney A. Greenblat |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/214757949 |magazine=The International Design Magazine |page=98 |via=ProQuest |volume=46 |issue=4|id={{ProQuest|214757949}} }} and was an active figure in the East Village art scene of the 1980s.{{Cite web |title=Rodney Alan Greenblat |url=https://www.artnet.com/artists/rodney-alan-greenblat/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Artnet}}

Work

Greenblat's work was shown in East Village museums in the 1980s,{{Cite magazine |date=1985 |title=Gracie Mansion |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=115294457&site=eds-live&scope=site |magazine=People |page=112 |volume=24 |issue=26}} including the Gracie Mansion Gallery,{{Cite journal |date=1986 |title=Multiples & Objects & Books |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24552971 |journal=The Print Collector's Newsletter |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=62 |jstor=24552971 |issn=0032-8537}}{{Cite journal |last1=Kirwin |first1=Liza |last2=Brown |first2=Robert F. |last3=Pacini |first3=Marina |last4=Karlstrom |first4=Paul J. |last5=Gustafson |first5=Judith A. |date=1991 |title=Regional Reports |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1557611 |journal=Archives of American Art Journal |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=34–41 |doi=10.1086/aaa.31.2.1557718 |jstor=1557611 |issn=0003-9853}} and was at the time considered part of a neo-surrealist movement.{{Cite journal |last=Westfall |first=Stephen |date=1985 |title=Surrealist Modes among Contemporary New York Painters |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/776805 |journal=Art Journal |volume=45 |issue=4 |pages=315–318 |doi=10.2307/776805|jstor=776805 }} Within the same decade, he did the artwork for New York-based alternative rock band They Might be Giants' first album.They Might Be Giants (Album notes). They Might Be Giants. Bar/None Records. 1986.{{cite interview |last=Flansburgh |first=John |interviewer=Debbie Millman |title=John Flansburgh: Observer Media |url=http://observermedia.designobserver.com/audio/john-flansburgh/32458/ |access-date=September 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712043629/http://observermedia.designobserver.com/audio/john-flansburgh/32458/ |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |publisher=Design Matters |date=May 3, 2012}}

In the 2010s, he has been recognized for his work on Parappa the Rapper and Um Jammer Lammy, as well as the Thunder Bunny series of books.{{Cite web|url=https://ucarochester-cgartsandanimation.blogspot.com/2012/02/supplement-rodney-alan-greenblat.html |first=Tom |last=Beg |website=University for the Creative Arts |title=The Supplement: Rodney Alan Greenblat |date=February 6, 2012}}

In 2017, he opened The Rodney Shop, a retail outlet and gallery in Catskill, New York.{{Cite news|url=https://visitvortex.com/magazine/2018-autumn-the-rodney-shop |title=The Rodney Shop |first=Diana |last=Waldron |date=August 22, 2018 |website=Visit Vortex |location=High Falls, New York}} The location closed in 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://therodneyshop.com/ |title=The Rodney Shop |access-date=June 27, 2024}}

Computer and video games

Solo exhibition history

1982

  • The Threshold, Rodney Alan Greenblat. Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island{{Cite web |date=1985 |title=Rodney Alan Greenblat |url=https://content.acca.melbourne/legacy/files/1985_Rodney%20Alan%20Greenblat_exhibition%20brochure.pdf |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=Australian Centre for Contemporary Art |first=John |last=Buckley}}

1983

  • Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, New York

1984

  • Time of Love. Galerie Anna Friebe, Cologne, Germany

1985

1986

  • House of Progress. Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, New York
  • The Tricentennial Room. Karl Bornstein Gallery, Los Angeles, California

1987

  • Reality and Imagination; Two Taste Treats in One! Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Reality and Imagination; Two Taste Treats in One! Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, Texas
  • The Scenic Route. Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, New York

1988

1989

  • John Berggruen Gallery, San Francisco, California

1990

  • Cosmic Adhesive. Gracie Mansion Gallery, New York, New York

1991

  • The Center for Advanced Whimsy. Carpenter Arts Center, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

1992

  • Land Ho! The Mythic World of Rodney A. Greenblat. Museum of Art, Roanoke, Virginia
  • Land Ho! The Mythic World of Rodney A. Greenblat. Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Virginia

1993

  • Technoweenie. PPOW, New York, New York
  • Land Ho! The Mythic World of Rodney A. Greenblat. World Financial Center, New York, New York

1995

  • Rodney Time. Creation Gallery G8, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

1996

  • Rodney's Late Breakfast at Milk. Milk, Ebisu, Tokyo, Japan

1997

  • Rodney Adventure. Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut

1998

  • New Studio Rodney. Parco Department Store, Japan

1999

  • Rodney’s Art in a Box. Sony Plaza, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan

2000

  • Rodney’s Character Club and Post Office Parco Department Store, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan
  • Cafe Rodney. Tokyo, Japan

2001

2005

  • Modern Day. BCB Gallery, Hudson, New York{{Cite web|url=http://wave-i.com/greenblat-rodney-alan-bio/?ckattempt=1 |website=Wave-I |title=Greenblat, Rodney Alan |access-date=June 27, 2024 |location=Seoul, Republic of Korea}}

2006

  • Downtown – The New York Art Scene 1974-1984. Grey Art Gallery NYU, New York, New York
  • Universe. Centella Gallery, Tucson, Arizona

2007

  • Elemental. Art Print Japan Galleries, Tokyo, Japan

2008

  • Free Wheel. BCB Gallery, Hudson, New York

2010

  • Thunder Bunny Buddha Shrine. BCB Gallery, Hudson, New York{{Cite magazine|url=https://issuu.com/chronogram/docs/december_chronogram_2010 |magazine=Chronogram |date=September 2013 |location=Kingston, New York |publisher=Jason Stern |page=69 |title=Galleries & museums}}

2012

  • Karma-con. The Rubin Museum, New York, New York

2013

  • Gala Veinte!. Hudson Opera House, Hudson, New York{{Cite magazine| url=https://issuu.com/chronogram/docs/fnlchronogram_0913r |magazine=Chronogram |date=December 2010 |location=Kingston, New York |publisher=Jason Stern |page=38 |title=Museums & galleries}}
  • The Wonder Verified and Fulfilled. BCB Gallery, Hudson NY

2015

  • Vibrant Space. BCB Gallery, Hudson, New York

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.whimsyload.com/ Rodney Alan Greenblat's official site]
  • [http://www.rodneyfun.com/ Rodney's official Japanese-language site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greenblat, Rodney Alan}}

Category:1960 births

Category:Living people

Category:American graphic designers

Category:People from Daly City, California

Category:Artists from California

Category:American children's writers