Chicagoist's Arts Pick: Daft Punk Love Ed Paschke, You Should Too

By Ben Schuman Stoler in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 26, 2010 7:30PM

Ed Paschke, PURISMA, 1986, Oil on linen, 68 x 80 inches.

In our opinion, Ed Paschke has his name on the best street an artist could ask for. The block of Monroe St. between Michigan Ave. and Columbus Dr. is a hot block, right in between Millenium Park and the Modern Wing, and it's named in honor of Paschke, a.k.a. "Mr. Chicago."

Paschke did a lot to raise consciousness about Chicago art and even though he died in 2004, his influence persists. Last week the Gagosian Gallery in New York opened a Paschke show curated and boosted by Jeff Koons (a student of Paschke's). It's cool to see a Chicago artist's work sell for big bucks, and hopefully it will trickle down to others.

That trickle down might well begin with two Paschke shows opening tonight right here in Chicity. The Alan Koppel gallery and Russell Bowman Art Advisory will be featuring Ed Paschke's WOMEN series (a painting from which you can see at right) tonight from 530-8. They're walking distance from each other, so hit one then hit the other. The idea, in part, is to have these shows build anticipation, excitement, and, hopefully, sale prices for ArtChicago at the end of April.

Oh, and evidently Daft Punk's secret robot grotto hideout is packed with Paschke's work. So, you know, he's cool.

The Alan Koppel gallery is located at 210 W. Chicago Ave.
Russell Bowman Art Advisory is located at 311 W. Superior, Suite 115.