Billy Apple - but is it art?

This is the second day in a row that is a significant date in the lives of prominent New Zealand artists.  Both of them having worked mostly overseas.  Yesterday was the kinetic sculptor and film maker, Len Lye.

Today is the birthdate of Billy Apple.  Another unusual artist. 

He was born as Barrie Bates but completely invented himself with the persona of Billy Apple.  He was ahead of his time in seeing himself rather than his art as a brand.  He became a registered trade mark in 2007.

And you guessed it, quite a lot of his work does depict apples. He has even now had a new breed of apple named after him.

In early days his work was exhibited with David Hockney and Andy Warhol.

His most well-known works are commentaries on the economics of the art world.  He also bartered artworks for bills he had to pay – often signing and framing the bills or receipts themselves.  He has been categorised as a Pop Artist.

It is difficult to assess his art.  He doesn’t even do it all himself.  Many of his works are done by an expert signwriter to his instructions.

Billy/Barrie returned to live in New Zealand in 1990 where he still happily scandalises the intellectual art scene by poking borax at it whenever possible.

I have scattered some examples of his works around this post so you can get a feel for how quirky he is.