Michael Moebius

Art Brokerage: Michael Moebius German Artist: Michael Moebius came into the world in 1968, in Germany. Having developed a love for art at an early age, cartooning became his first passion. However, in the then-communist East Germany, more pragmatic pursuits were the order of the day. Art would have to be put on the back burner while a formal education was pursued, and Michael decided on a career in engineering and construction. It was during a stint working in a parallel field of architectural illustration that Michael happened upon a book featuring the pin-ups of Alberto Vargas. A new love affair took root, and Michael decided that figurative art would be his life’s work. His work has also won attention from celebrities including Mel Gibson, Paris Hilton, Hugh Hefner, Rihanna, David Guetta and KISS frontman Gene Simmons. Michael Moebius shows a huge talent when it comes to turning pop art and popular culture on its head. Today, Moebius has become one of the most recognized and in-demand contemporary artists in the world. His now famous bubble gum portraits have become a favorite among interior designers and investors the world over thanks to their striking symbolism. Most famously, Michael Moebius gives a new dimension to popular cultural icons, adding brightly colored gum bubbles to monochrome portraits. Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth have all been re-imagined in this style, up to his latest work (“All you need is gum”) where he depicts the four Beatles all with signature gum bubbles. In terms of artistic influences, Moebius cites inspiration from Italian Renaissance artist Titian and the genius baroque Caravaggio, as well as more contemporary names such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Alberto Vargas. Listings wanted.