Frank Hyder, the American Picasso, Displays his Heads and His Wisdom at the Art Students League

Frank Hyder just turned 65 but he still creates art like a young Turk, always outside the box and constantly refreshing his creativity with new concepts. Franks been making art since he was eight years old, sold his first painting at age 12 and has had more national and international solo museum exhibitions that anyone can shake a stick at. As for major awards and grants, hes received a US Embassy Cultural Grant, a Senior Fulbright, two National Endowments and two Pennsylvania State Council Grants along with international public commissions from California to Venezuela.

Why do I call him the American Picasso? Because like Pablo, after hes completed an impressive assemblage of work in one leitmotif, Hyder switches gears to another subject and a different art form, moving from seaside oils to sculptured wooden paintings to ephemeral see-through figures to self portraits glued on curved clear plastic illuminated by alternating colored neon lighting.

Hyders latest concept, on display currently at the Art Student League, is the Janis Project large scale inflatable sculptures of painted heads which have visited the entire coast of Europe from Istanbul to St. Petersburg to the British Isles for the past two summers thanks to Oceania Cruise Lines Artist in Resident Program with the support of Frank Del Rio, CEO of the Norwegian Cruise Lines. A double-faced Janis enjoyed spontaneous daily placement on the luxury liner and also delighted and surprised the locals when it moved port-side and to get a little fresh air.

Hyders air-filled, huge heads are reminiscent of the Easter Islands Moai sculptures, Aztec Olmecs and Junus, the Roman god of new endeavors. They have their roots in street art and inflatable toys. Generally well received, Janis did attract police action in Seville, Spain for its lack of a permit and received a definite Nyet! from St. Petersburgs border police. Hyder also spoke informally about art in general and Janis specifically on the Oceania Cruise Line ships.

Janis resembles an oversized childhood toy but carries a serious message. Every Janis figure is two-faced with two distinct skin colors which are on equal footing. All the Janis figures wear face paint just like humans who paint their faces to appear more attractive or to mask the true selves. The name Janis is gender-neutral, in keeping with a time when ones sex is as diverse as ones skin tone. Like the circus creatures of old, Janis travels, is weather resistant and enjoys internal illumination.

To enjoy several versions of these painted, inflated heads and hear Hyders exciting, amusing informal talk about art, entitled Outside The Box, the area in which hes always worked, join him at the Art Students League, 215 W. 57th St, New York City 10019 on Tuesday October 25, 2016 from 6:30 to 8 pm.