# Barry McGee

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American painter (born 1966)

Barry McGee McGee Mural on Houston and Bowery Born 1966 (age 59–60) San Francisco, California, U.S. Alma mater San Francisco Art Institute Occupation Visual artist Known for Painting Movement Mission School, street art Spouse(s) Margaret Kilgallen (1999–2001; death); Clare Rojas (m.2005) Children 1

**Barry McGee** (born 1966) is an American artist. He is known for graffiti art, and a pioneer of the [Mission School](/source/Mission_School) art movement.[1] McGee is known by his [monikers](/source/Moniker): **Twist**,[2] **Ray Fong**,[3] **Bernon Vernon**,[4] and **P.Kin**.

## Life and education

Barry McGee was born in 1966 in San Francisco, California.[2] He is of Chinese and Irish descent. McGee's father worked at an auto body repair shop.[5] McGee graduated from [El Camino High School](/source/El_Camino_High_School_(South_San_Francisco)) in [South San Francisco](/source/South_San_Francisco%2C_California), California.

He attended the [San Francisco Art Institute](/source/San_Francisco_Art_Institute), where he graduated in 1991 with a concentration in painting and printmaking.[6]

McGee was married to the artist [Margaret Kilgallen](/source/Margaret_Kilgallen) in 1999, who later died of breast cancer in 2001.[7] They have a daughter named Asha.[7][5] After Kilgallen's death, McGee married artist [Clare Rojas](/source/Clare_Rojas) in 2005.[5]

## Work

"Acclaimed for his work in the street as a graffiti artist and for his painted installations in galleries, museums and art festivals around the world, Barry McGee crafts a visual language that makes itself understood. It is public, addressing social concerns of urban life, and very private, elaborating a unique personal style that focuses on humanity, one painstakingly detailed, fine brush-painted image at a time."[8]

## Career

Commissioned murals typical of Barry McGee's earlier work and graffiti in the [LACMA](/source/Los_Angeles_County_Museum_of_Art) parking garage (now torn down)

McGee was a central figure in the [graffiti](/source/Graffiti) art scene in San Francisco from the late 1980s and into the 1990s. As Twist, he became well known nationally by his stylized black and white [pictographic](/source/Pictogram) [flathead screw](/source/Flat-head_screw) [graffiti 'throw ups'](/source/Glossary_of_graffiti). Later he was part of the [Mission School](/source/Mission_School) art movement based in the aesthetics of the [Mission District](/source/Mission_District%2C_San_Francisco) of San Francisco.[6] His work is founded on a pessimistic view of the [urban](/source/Urban_culture) experience, which he describes as, "urban ills, over-stimulations, frustrations, addictions & trying to maintain a level head under the constant bombardment of advertising". He was also an artist in residence at [inner-city](/source/Inner-city) [McClymonds High School](/source/McClymonds_High_School) in [Oakland, California](/source/Oakland%2C_California), in the early '90s. Although his artistic origins lie in [New York subway graffiti](/source/Graffiti_in_New_York_City) he has been included as a member of the [street art](/source/Street_art) movement.[9]

Installation, *Xe Biennale de Lyon*

McGee's installations consist of simple bold paintings which are influenced by [Islamic patterns](/source/Islamic_art) on [tiles](/source/Tile), vernacular [sign painting](/source/Sign_painting), or use [caricatures](/source/Caricature) of the destitute. These paintings are clustered together in combination with photographs of other graffiti writers. Older work included layering of shapes, and [buff marks](/source/Glossary_of_graffiti), backgrounds of drips painted directly on the gallery wall. He has painted stylized portraits on empty bottles of [liquor](/source/Liquor), flattened spray cans, and wrecked vehicles for art shows. He has collaborated frequently with Amaze, allowing him to paint the exterior and interior of the galleries exhibiting McGee's work. They have also utilized realistic moving mechanical human figures that appear to be [tagging](/source/Glossary_of_graffiti) gallery walls.

The market value of his work rose considerably after 2001 as a result of his being included in the [Venice Biennale](/source/Venice_Biennale) and other major exhibitions. As a result, much of his San Francisco [street art](/source/Street_art) has been scavenged or stolen.[10][11]

## Controversies

In September 1999, a 64-foot-long, 8-foot-high mural made up of 300 pieces, made by Barry McGee and financially sponsored by the [Luggage Store Gallery](/source/Luggage_Store_Gallery) and the Creative Work Fund, was stolen off a vacant commercial building in the [South of Market](/source/South_of_Market%2C_San_Francisco) neighborhood of San Francisco.[12] It was never recovered.[13]

In 2004, as part of an exhibit at [San Francisco's City Hall](/source/San_Francisco_City_Hall),[6] McGee spray-painted "Smash the State" on the walls of Supervisor [Matt Gonzalez](/source/Matt_Gonzalez)'s office. [SFGate](/source/SFGate) wrote: "The timing and placement of the artwork are interesting, seeing how City Hall is a registered historical landmark, and you need approval just to hang a bulletin board". Gonzalez told the press that he knew his office would be repainted for the next occupant.[14]

McGee was involved in a controversy regarding the [Adidas](/source/Adidas) Y1 HUF, a shoe for which he provided the artwork. This gave rise to a protest campaign by some Asian-Americans who claimed that the picture on the shoe's tongue depicts a racist [stereotype](/source/Stereotype).[3] McGee responded to the controversy in a March 2006 press release.[15] He stated that the drawing was a portrait of himself as an 8-year-old child.

## Selected exhibitions

Woman photographing a Barry McGee installation, *Xe Biennale de Lyon*

- 1999: *The Buddy System,* Deitch Gallery in New York City, NYC[16]

- 1999: *HOSS,* Rice Gallery in Houston, TX[17]

- 2001: with Todd James, and [Stephen Powers](/source/Stephen_Powers_(artist)), [Venice Biennale](/source/Venice_Biennale)[18]

- 2004: *Barry McGee and Josh Lazcano*, [Gallery Paule Anglim](/source/Gallery_Paule_Anglim) in San Francisco, CA[19]

- 2004: [Rose Art Museum](/source/Rose_Art_Museum)[20]

- 2006: Featured in *Beautiful Losers* exhibition at Circleculture Gallery in Berlin, Germany[21]

- 2006–2007: LOFT installation at Roberts & Tilton Gallery in Los Angeles, CA[22]

- 2007: [Watari Museum of Contemporary Art](/source/Watari_Museum_of_Contemporary_Art)[23]

- 2008: [Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art](/source/Baltic_Centre_for_Contemporary_Art)[24]

- 2008: *The Big Sad* (With [Clare Rojas](/source/Clare_Rojas)), [Riverside Art Museum](/source/Riverside_Art_Museum)[25]

- 2008: *Life on Mars* *Carnegie International*[26]

- 2008: Ratio 3 in San Francisco, CA[27]

- 2009: *McGee / Templeton / Pettibon* exhibition curated by [Aaron Rose](/source/Aaron_Rose) at Circleculture Gallery in Berlin, Germany[28]

- 2009–2010: Biennale de Lyon, France[29]

- 2010: *The Last Night* (With HuskMitNavn)*,* A.L.I.C.E. gallery in Brussels, Belgium[30]

- 2012: Retrospective at the [Berkeley Art Museum](/source/Berkeley_Art_Museum_and_Pacific_Film_Archive)[31]

- 2019: *The Other Side*, solo show, Perrotin Gallery, Hong Kong[32]

- 2021: *Fuzz Gathering,* solo show, [Galerie Perrotin](/source/Galerie_Perrotin), Paris[33]

- 2022: *Everyday Sunrise,* solo show, Perrotin, Seoul

- 2024: *Old Mystified,* solo show, Berggruen, San Francisco

## See also

- *[Beautiful Losers](/source/Beautiful_Losers_(film))*

- [Mission School](/source/Mission_School)

- [Lowbrow (art movement)](/source/Lowbrow_(art_movement))

- *[Piece by Piece](/source/Piece_by_Piece_(2005_film))*

## Bibliography

- McGee, Barry, Ellen Robinson, and Katya Tylevich. *Barry McGee*. Bologna: Damiani, (2018). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-8862086165](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8862086165)

- Boas, Natasha. *Energy that is all around: Mission School: Chris Johanson, Margaret Kilgallen, Alicia McCarthy, Barry McGee, Ruby Neri*. San Francisco: San Francisco Art Institute Chronicle Books, (2014). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1452142180](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1452142180)

- Rinder, Lawrence, and Barry McGee. *Barry McGee*. Berkeley & New York: University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Inc, (2012). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1935202851](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1935202851)

- Rose, Aaron (editor), *Barry McGee* . Tokyo: Damiani, (2010). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-8862080965](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8862080965)

- Kilgallen, Margaret, et al. *Margaret kilgallen : in the sweet bye & bye*. Los Angeles: California Institute of the Arts/REDCAT, (2006). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0974983165](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0974983165)

- Bertelli, Patrizio, Barry McGee. Fondazione Prada, (2002). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-8887029215](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8887029215)

- Kawachi, Taka, *Street Market: Barry McGee, Stephen Powers, Todd James*. Little More, (2000). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4898150399](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4898150399)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Gonzalez, Matt (December 17, 2015). ["Review: Barry McGee "China Boo""](https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/painting/review-barry-mcgee-china-boo-ratio-3/). *Juxtapoz Magazine*. Retrieved November 23, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_2-1) ["Barry McGee"](https://art21.org/artist/barry-mcgee/). *Art21*. Retrieved November 23, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_3-1) Tunison, Michael (April 14, 2006). ["Asians Decry Adidas Shoe as a Misstep"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2006/04/14/asians-decry-adidas-shoe-as-a-misstep/92cb2f74-7d35-4a8e-95e3-04cd0de93a05/). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0190-8286](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0190-8286). Retrieved November 23, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Valentine, Ben (October 11, 2012). ["Does Barry McGee Have Something to Prove?"](https://hyperallergic.com/58059/barry-mcgee-berkeley-art-museum/). *[Hyperallergic](/source/Hyperallergic)*. Retrieved November 23, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_5-2) ["Three Artists, One Love Story"](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/08/10/a-ghost-in-the-family). *The New Yorker*. Condé Nast. August 3, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-McGee,_Barry_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-McGee,_Barry_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-McGee,_Barry_6-2) ["McGee, Barry"](https://www.sfmoma.org/artist/barry-mcgee/). *SFMOMA*. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_7-1) Smith, Roberta (July 4, 2001). ["Margaret Kilgallen, a San Francisco Artist, 33"](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/04/arts/margaret-kilgallen-a-san-francisco-artist-33.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved November 23, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Barry McGee, Gallery Paule Anglim, San Francisco"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070105020541/http://www.gallerypauleanglim.com/mcgee_barry.html). January 5, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.gallerypauleanglim.com/mcgee_barry.html) on January 5, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["McGee, Barry"](https://www.sfmoma.org/artist/barry-mcgee/). *SFMOMA*. Retrieved July 22, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-helfand_10-0)** ["The Mission school"](http://www.sfbg.com/36/28/art_mission_school.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070104232116/http://www.sfbg.com/36/28/art_mission_school.html) January 4, 2007, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) by Glen Helfand, *[San Francisco Bay Guardian](/source/San_Francisco_Bay_Guardian)*, October 28, 2002.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Twist Thief"](http://www.fecalface.com/news/2007/12/) by Trippe, *Fecal Face* (website), December 13, 2007. (scroll down)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Brazil, Eric (November 15, 1999). ["Art theft is fairly common – but a mural?"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113508225/art-theft-is-fairly-common-but-a/). *[Citizens' Voice](/source/Citizens'_Voice)*. [San Francisco Examiner](/source/San_Francisco_Examiner). p. 44. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1070-8626](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1070-8626). Retrieved November 23, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Missing mural: Blue period for S.F. art lovers"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113508416/missing-mural-blue-period-for-sf-art/). *[Record Searchlight](/source/Record_Searchlight)*. San Francisco Examiner. November 16, 1999. p. 9. Retrieved November 23, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-lelchuk_14-0)** Lelchuk, I. Lelchuk, Ilene (December 10, 2004). ["Last word on government: Graffiti installation in Gonzalez's office gets mixed reviews"](https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Last-word-on-government-2665271.php). *The San Francisco Chronicle*. Retrieved May 10, 2006. *San Francisco Chronicle* on the web, December 10, 2004.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [\[1\]](http://poplicks.com/2006/04/adidas-responds-finally.htm) [*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Deitch"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070920104146/http://www.deitch.com/projects/sub.php?projId=104). September 20, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.deitch.com/projects/sub.php?projId=104) on September 20, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Installations"](http://www.ricegallery.org/past-installations/). *Rice Gallery*. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Levin, Kim (June 25, 2001). ["Panic Attack"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070101130925/http://www.villagevoice.com/art/0126,levin,25887,13.html). *Village Voice*. Archived from [the original](http://www.villagevoice.com/art/0126,levin,25887,13.html) on January 1, 2007. Retrieved December 6, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Barry McGee, Gallery Paule Anglim, San Francisco"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070105020541/http://www.gallerypauleanglim.com/mcgee_barry.html). January 5, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.gallerypauleanglim.com/mcgee_barry.html) on January 5, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["BrandeisNOW"](https://www.brandeis.edu/now/?news_item_id=102596). *Brandeis.edu*. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Circle Culture Gallery"](http://circleculturegallery.com/exhibitions/beautiful_losers/). *Archive.is*. November 30, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2019.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Roberts Projects"](https://robertsprojectsla.com/). *Robertsprojectsla.com*. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["watari-um – exhibition – バリー・マッギー展"](http://www.watarium.co.jp/exhibition/0706_mcgee_en.html). *Watarium.co.jp*. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080331105246/http://www.balticmill.com/whatsOn/future/ExhibitionDetail.php?exhibID=93). March 31, 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.balticmill.com/whatsOn/future/ExhibitionDetail.php?exhibID=93) on March 31, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Riverside Art Museum – Exhibitions – The Big Sad: Barry McGee & Clare Rojas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081019081136/http://riversideartmuseum.org/exhibitions/view/?id=23). October 19, 2008. Archived from [the original](http://riversideartmuseum.org/exhibitions/view/?id=23) on October 19, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Barry McGee – Signals"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080429184958/http://blog.cmoa.org/CI08/2008/02/barry-mcgee.php). April 29, 2008. Archived from [the original](http://blog.cmoa.org/CI08/2008/02/barry-mcgee.php) on April 29, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["A Moment for Reflection: New Work by Lydia Fong"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100126124942/http://ratio3.org/exhibitions/2008/moment-reflection-new-work-lydia-fong). *Ratio 3*. 2008. Archived from [the original](http://ratio3.org/exhibitions/2008/moment-reflection-new-work-lydia-fong) on January 26, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["ANNEX – Kevin Earl Taylor – Exhibitions – Circle Culture Gallery"](http://circleculturegallery.com/exhibitions/mcgee__templeton__pettibon).{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Biennale de Lyon 2009 – Pictures gallery"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091030075148/http://www.biennaledelyon.com/contemporaryart2009/video/pictures-gallery.html). October 30, 2009. Archived from [the original](http://www.biennaledelyon.com/contemporaryart2009/video/pictures-gallery.html) on October 30, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["The Last Night"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100720010013/http://www.alicebxl.com/2279.0.html). *Alice Gallery Brussels*. 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www.alicebxl.com/2279.0.html) on July 20, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["BAM/PFA – Art Exhibitions – Barry McGee"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121115154728/http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/mcgee). November 15, 2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/mcgee) on November 15, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["Barry MCGEE – Contemporary Art Exhibition"](https://www.perrotin.com/exhibitions/barry_mcgee-the-other-side/6823). *www.perrotin.com*. Retrieved November 3, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BAM_33-0)** *Barry Mcgee Légende vivante du graffiti*, Beaux Arts Magazine, No. 448, Octobre 2021, pp. 68-75

## Bibliography

- Barry McGee. 2002. *Barry McGee: The Buddy System*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9648530-3-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9648530-3-5)

- Barry McGee, Germano Celant, Prada. 2003. *Barry McGee*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [88-87029-21-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/88-87029-21-0)

- Aaron Rose and Christian Strike (editors). 2004. *Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-891024-74-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-891024-74-4)

## External links

- [Barry McGee at Ratio 3](https://ratio3.org/artists/barry-mcgee), San Francisco, CA

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Japan Netherlands Israel Artists ULAN MusicBrainz RKD Artists Museum of Modern Art Other IdRef SNAC Yale LUX

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