Dutch artist Parra (1976) is best known for his surreal bird-like characters and distinctive use of saturated colours. His early work explored vibrant hand-drawn letters and humor, in recent years, his work has evolved into gorgeously layered abstract interpretations of his core figures.
Celebrated by galleries and championed by a devout underground following, Parra has become a respected and multimedia artist, through solo exhibitions spanning Asia, the United States, and Europe. Working across large scale public sculpture, painting, drawing and textile work, Parra creates an enigmatic and instantly recognisable style that defies easy categorisation. His work is in the public collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Parra is co-founder of cult apparel label By Parra and a member of music group Le Le and MICH. Parra lives and works in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024
Assorted Confusion, Alice Gallery, Ixelles, Belgium
2023
Serenade, Ruttkowski;68, New York, NY
2022
Hold on to your mini horse, Ruttkowski;68, New York, NY
2020
I'M JUST HAPPY WE GOT A CAT
2019
i seriously doubt it, Over The Influence, Hong Kong
2018
VOLTA, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York, NY
2016
No Work Today, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York
I Can't Look at Your Face Anymore, Ruttkowski;68 Gallery, Cologne
2015
Yer So Bad, Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York
Parra (a 10 year survey, The story so far), Kunsthal, Rotterdam
Salut, Alice Gallery, Brussels
2014
Same Old Song, HVW8 Gallery, Los Angeles
2013
And Wait for Something to Happen, Ruttkowski;68 Gallery, Cologne
Il Senso di Colpa, Galleria Patricia Armocida, Milan
Tracy Had a Hard Sunday, Jonathan Levine Gallery, New York
2012
Kind Regrets, HVW8 Gallery, Los Angeles
Weirded Out, 60 feet indoor mural for the SFMOMA, San Francisco
2011
The How Original Show, HVW8 Gallery, Los Angeles
2010
The Amsterdam Show, Common Gallery, Tokyo
Yes Yes Yes, Project Space, Los Angeles
2009
I Like the Tee Shirt but I Will Get the Painting, Pool Gallery, Berlin
The Disco of Italo, Patricia Armocida Gallery, Milan
Is That a Gun My Friend?, HVW8 Gallery, Los Angeles
2008
Boo to the Hoo, Lazy Dog Gallery, Paris
2007
Parrived, Arrive, Miami
LaLaLa, HVW8 Gallery, Los Angeles
The Of Best, Vallery Galley, Barcelona
Random Tits, Reed Space, New York
2006
Tits and Typo, Kemistry Gallery, London
The Art of Parra, Toykyo, Ghent
I really like it but could you change the colors & the design?, Lazy Dog Gallery, Paris
2005
Jobs I do for friends for less than 100 pounds, Kemistry Gallery, London
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020
8th Ply, The Garage, Amsterdam
2019
Mixed Pickles 6, Ruttkowski;68, Cologne
VOLTA, Joshua Liner Gallery, Basel
2018
10 Years, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York
Pulse Art Fair, Joshua Liner Gallery Booth, Miami
2017
Pulse Art Fair, Joshua Liner Gallery Booth, Miami
2016
Summer Mixer, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York
Juxtapoz x Superflat, Takashi Murakami Juxtapox, Seattle
2013
UN/LIMITED, A Poster Project, Musée des beaux-arts, Le Locle. (Curated by Thibaud Tissot, onlab)
This is not Music, La Friche Belle de Mai, Marseille
2011
Animate Everything, Protein Gallery, London
2010
Never Judge…?, Stolen Space, London
Go Font Yourself, Peer Gallery, Sydney
2009
Smile On Your Brother, Livestock, Vancouver
Bad Day issue #4, Emporium Gallery, Montreal, Canada
2008
Yes, Gallery Mama, Rotterdam
Awards
Winner, D&AD silver pencil for illustration for Tastebuddies campaign (2011)
Winner, De Amsterdam Prijs voor de Kunst (Amsterdam Art Prize 2010)
Winner, Best Illustration, Dutch Design Awards (2010)
Works in Public Collections
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Selected Press
Juxtapoz (cover), December 2016
It's Nice That
Highsnobiety
Chris Read, Parra: Short for Paranoid, Hypebeast, 18 March 2011
Bradley Carbone, The Top 25 Artists of 2010, Complex Magazine, 20 December 2010
Arye Dworken, Piet Parra: My Life Has Surpassed Expectations, The 99%, January 2010
Charly Wilder, Parra and the Case of Art v. Commerce, New York Times, 14 September 2009
Juxtapoz (cover), March 2008