Andrew Schoultz, "In Gods We Trust" opening reception Thursday, September 4, 5:30-7:30 PM, on view through October 25, 2008; Marx & Zavattero; 77 Geary St, 2nd fl, San Francisco, 415.627.9111, www.marxzav.com

Wondering why artists seem to be silent on the topic of the United States' hegemonic hubris?  Or why there is no contemporary version of Picasso's Guernica, especially from artists in San Francisco, a city with a long history of policial activisim?

Andrew Schoultz is doing his part.  That "s" in the title of Schoultz's new show at Marx & Zavattero, "In Gods We Trust," is not a typo, it's a statement.  Schoultz's images of Armaggedon are inspired by our government's track record of arrogance, especially when dealing with countries shaped by religions other than Christianity.  His outrage over the state of our environment is palpable as well.  Schoultz's expression developed in the antiestablishment arena of graffiti murals, in itself an act of defiance.

Like the iconography of Guernica or the impenetrably personal cartoons of 70’s iconoclast painter Phillip Guston, Schoultz’s work is coded with particular narrative symbols.  Over and over again, in paintings and drawings, medieval horses dance into battle, trees of life are hacked into firewood, anachronistic telephone poles blight the landscape, and cycloptic Masonic pyramids keep a watchful eye.  Flocks of birds and waves of arrows fly by, signaling pandemonium.  The artist’s signature illustration technique is to apply wide, overlapping chevrons which mimic plagues of locusts and electrify the atmosphere. 

Schoultz is an auto-didact.  When asked about his influences, Schoultz lists Persian and Indian miniatures and 14th-century German mapmaking among many.  Both art forms are strongly connected to the cycles of war (history repeating itself) and require an intense quality of detail.  Schoultz immersed himself in these subjects, and the result is a level of detail in his own work that is mesmerizing as well.

Considering his subject matter, it’s no wonder that Western Europeans love his work.  Shoultz received his BFA in the practice of art in 2003 (from San Francisco’s Academy of Art), and he’s already had two solo shows and more than a few museum installations abroad.  He’s not sure how his work made a splash across the Atlantic, but guesses it was through his presence at international art fairs or via the Internet.  In any event, they found him.

Twice nominated for the SFMOMA SECA Award, Schoultz has a dedicated following of collectors.  Jeremy Stone, a San Francisco based valuation expert specializing in modern and contemporary art, said she first became familiar with Schoultz’s work driving past his SOMA murals on her way to the office.  When a friend invited her to Schoultz’s first show at Boucheon Gallery in 2004, she ended up buying three pieces. 

But don’t call Andrew Schoultz a cross-over artist.  He is not a grafitti punk cum art celeb: He has wanted to be a fine artist most of his life and just happened to be a professional skateboarder and Mission muralist along the way.  Introduced to art through graphic novels, he found his talent in an innovative Milwaukee high school art class that taught him tagging (graffitti signatures) was art.  He spent one year at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, on a full art scholarship, then dropped out to join the professional skate boarding circuit.

Schoultz arrived in San Francisco in 1996 and in 2000 approached Clarion Mural Project founder Aaron Noble, asking how he could to participate.  Several collaborations with Noble ensued, culminating in a joint show at Track 16 gallery in Los Angeles in 2003.  Schoultz’s career started to take off, with three solo shows in 2004 and seven in 2006.  His dedication to public art has not waned, but matured, as is befitting an artist represented by a commercial gallery. 

Take a tour of Schoultz’ public work before going to see the show at Marx & Zavattero.  You’ll enjoy seeing the evolution from illegal pastime to legitimate profession.  See his latest- the newly commissioned sign at Park Life Store on Clement and 3rd Avenue.  Stark Guide map to Andrew Schoultz's murals and public art