Shag – the Swinging Retro-Style Artist
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Josh Agle, better known as Shag to the many followers of his retro-style artistic creations, has a swinger’s view of life with a 60s sensibility.
Looking at his paintings of hip people in Hugh Hefner, Mad Men-type settings – from cocktail parties to backyard barbecues – you feel immersed in the go-go era.
Shag’s paintings are populated with an assortment of lounge lizards, glamorous women, Vegas Rat Pack types, night club-goers, and other cool cats (both human and feline).
Karen Adler, owner of the Picture Show Gallery in Seal Beach (231 Main Street), told SurfWriter GIrls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel that Shaq has a unique style that really captures the essence of the 60s.
Gesturing to the paintings on display in her gallery, she noted the attention to period detail that Shag takes with each artwork.
Adler, who has featured Shag’s artworks at the Picture Show Gallery for over a dozen years now, said, “Everything he does is creative, bright, and fun.”
Shag’s paintings are playful and draw you into his own mod world, filled with turtle-neck-wearing sophisticates, bikini-clad bombshells, martini-drinkers, and more.
When you look at Shag’s beach art you feel like you’re in the middle of Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello’s Beach Blanket Bingo movie. So, get ready to party!
In addition to the artworks on display locally at the Picture Show Gallery, Shag has his own gallery, Shag the store, in Palm Springs, located at 725 N Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
The Palm Springs gallery (and an online website) features a variety of original paintings and prints, cloisonné jewelry…
painted handbags…
pillows and beach towels, glassware, and more.
So, when you’re feelin’ groovy take a look inside Shag’s retro world and slip into a pair of paisley bell-bottoms or neon mini-skirt.
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