Wild Drums

Victor Castillo is a Chilean painter renowned for his distinctive fusion of pop surrealism, political satire, and darkly whimsical imagery. Castillo began drawing obsessively at the age of five, inspired by cartoons, science fiction films, and album covers like Pink Floyd’s The Wall. Castillo’s paintings are characterized by cartoonish figures with exaggerated features, often set against dreamlike or dystopian backdrops. His work draws inspiration from vintage animation, comics, graffiti, and classical art, particularly Francisco Goya’s Black Paintings, which he encountered during a visit to the Prado Museum in Madrid . This blend results in a visual language that juxtaposes innocence with underlying themes of violence, power, and societal critique. Shooting Gallery opened its doors in 2003 to the historic Tenderloin district of San Francisco; one known for its diverse culture and history. Owner and curator, Justin Giarla, founded the space to offer a welcoming environment for viewing the art he loves. Taking up collecting art at the age of 23, Giarla has since amassed over 500 pieces in his own collection. Growing up in Southern California gave Giarla an affinity with pop art, street art, and outsider art. Giarla has long since recognized the necessity to provide lowbrow artists with a platform, which is exactly what Shooting Gallery has done for a full decade. In addition to the exhibition of leading shows in pop surrealism, figurative realism, and color abstraction, Shooting Gallery also participates in art fairs around the world and hosts annual fundraisers for local nonprofits. Since opening Shooting Gallery, Giarla has gone on to start his own publishing company, and as of February, 2013, has expanded White Walls and Shooting Gallery into a 5,000 sq ft state of the art gallery space, featuring two new project spaces. Acrylic paint is fast drying paint containing pigment suspension in acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint is diluted (with water) or modified with acrylic gels, media, or pastes, the finished acrylic painting can resemble a watercolor or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable with other media.