JUXTAPOZ ISSUE 162 / JULY 2014

Issue 162 is a summer-weight Juxtapoz—bright, graphic, Americana-tinged, and stacked with artists who each carry their own unmistakable visual voice. It begins with contributor Jeremy Fish, a fitting opener given his long-running relationship with the magazine and his knack for storytelling through clean lines and surreal mascots. A brief intro leads into The Report on Ed Ruscha, tying highway iconography, deadpan humor, and American typography into one of the most influential art careers of the last century.

The Event section covers BANT at YBCA, followed by Picture Book photographer Yan Morvan, whose lens captures subcultures, conflict zones, and intimate human moments with documentary grit. Design features Dana Tanamachi-Williams, known for her luscious chalk lettering and handcrafted typography. Fashion shifts to Tellason Denim, that classic raw-denim, built-to-last West Coast aesthetic. Influences checks in with Justin Blyth, whose collage-minded visual language bridges internet detritus, graphic design, and grimy pop energy.

Then the magazine jumps into the heavy hitters:
• Shepard Fairey, returning with new work and political edge—propaganda aesthetics filtered through punk, skate, and activism.
• Andrew Pommier, whose quirky, slightly offbeat characters and illustrative humour push into fine-art territory.
• Jesse Hazelip, working in symbolic, anti-colonial, animal-driven imagery blending tattoo culture, activism, and myth.
• Margaret Keane, the queen of the “Big Eyes,” whose melancholic portraits had just re-entered the cultural spotlight thanks to the Tim Burton film.
• Kikyz1313, with hyper-detailed, unsettling anatomical drawings—delicate, morbid, and hauntingly beautiful.
• Todd Francis, the skate-art legend known for black humour, dead birds, and raw, sarcastic visual wit.

The back of the issue hits the usual Juxtapoz rhythm: a Travel Insider look at Philadelphia’s art and mural ecosystem, “Beautiful Bits,” book reviews, SEMOMA’s Gorgeous exhibition rundown, product picks, Sieben’s concise life philosophy, and Pop Life cultural snapshots. The issue closes with a reflective Perspective, tying the summer mix together.

A lively, graphic, personality-packed issue—equal parts classic street culture and sharp fine-art commentary.