Glenn Barr – ‘New Works’ @ Copro Gallery [Santa Monica]

Next Saturday, May 2, Copro Gallery will open a brand new solo exhibition by acclaimed Detroit artist Glenn Barr. A veteran of the pop surrealist, low brow, and underground contemporary art worlds, Glenn forged his trademark aesthetic through such influences as B-movies, pulp comics, counterculture, retro futurism, filth, grime, and the seedy underbelly of the urban landscapes around him. While such reference points can be easy to spot in his work, the painter’s legacy has been firmly established, his own output creating a language of its own and becoming a reference point and continuing influence for a new generation of artists sprouting up behind him.

His latest collection marks Barr‘s second solo exhibition at the Santa Monica gallery and features the occasional iconic subject, such as Gabrielle Drake and Divine. The work is painterly; loose, yet defined. It toys with dimension, creating depth in areas with precise yet minimal definition. The perspectives and the manner in which these images are cropped are very intentional choices, but remain subtle enough to feel organic and natural. Life pushes through like apparitions coming into focus, prominent against the more “haphazard” renderings that suggest bokeh and peripheral vision. Much of the success in these elements stems from recognizing when and where to utilize them. There’s a skill in how one places detail and in knowing what to add and what to leave out. Those who deal in photorealism understand these elements well, but Barr‘s priorities feel different. He employs them in ways that prioritize and crystallize emotion in his pieces. His subjects are vibrating and churning, suspended in thought. There is movement, even when it’s simply internal. The complexity of the technique is rivaled by that of cerebral characters that are provided with a foundation on which to be born.

The exhibition will run until May 23rd, but if you’re able to make it out to the opening reception, that’s always recommended.

Check out a selection of preview images below, after the following event details.

WHAT:

NEW WORKS
Glenn Barr solo exhibition

WHEN:

Saturday, May 2, 2026
6pm-9pm

WHERE:

Copro Gallery
Bergamot Station Arts Complex
2525 Michigan Ave , Unit T5
Santa Monica , CA 90404
Ph: 310-829-2156

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Opening is FREE and all ages
Artists will be in attendance
Show runs until Saturday, May 23rd
Gallery hours:
Friday 11:00 AM -7:00 PM
Saturday 1:00 PM -5:00 PM
Sunday 11:00AM-6:00PM
WEEKDAY BY APPOINTMENT