Biography
Using flat, saturated planes of bold blues, reds, and pinks, Parra (born Pieter Janssen) paints faceless female characters in abstracted domestic scenes that recall the work of Tom Wesselmann and Henri Matisse. The Dutch illustrator, painter, and animator has also created cartoon-like figures with beaks or otherwise bird-like heads. Parra began his career drawing flyers and posters for music venues. He later employed his eccentric, hand-drawn approach to illustration and design in his fine-art practice. Parra's work has been exhibited in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Hong Kong, London, and Amsterdam, and has been acquired by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Through his label ByParra, the artist also sells clothing, skateboards, accessories, and home goods.