San Francisco-based artist Barry McGee joined a long list of others for the 2009 edition of XeBiennale de Lyon, The Spectacle of the Everyday, in France. The XeBiennale de Lyon is a yearly compilation of artists from all over the world spread between four venues.
Known for his graffiti work, McGee draws his inspiration from the urban experience and will, fittingly, be featured at the La Sucrière venue. La Sucrière is an old sugar factory that was built in the 1930’s. Sugar production halted in the 1990’s and today, visitors enter the gallery through its silos.
McGee describes his work as a mixture of urban ills, frustrations and addictions while trying to keep some sanity through the constant bombardment of advertisements. His structures can range from wood to vans covered in graffiti, all bridging the gap between technical skill and the street environment he knows best.
Gallery Spotlight, by Shelby Blitz, is a series of weekly short features on art exhibitions, and the galleries that host them, from all corners of the world.