Shelf Life

Shelf life is the first book dedicated to the work of the contemporary photorealist artist Neil Gall. Working outside the usual traditions and subject matter of the genre, Gall is best known for his "S & M sculpture paintings," which echo the disquiet of Hans Bellmer's dolls, and conjure the debris of everyday life (such as duct tape, plasticine and wire) into stunted, contorted, and amputated characters. Gall's technique of "layering" modeling, assembly, photography, and finally, painting reveals references to art history, from Dutch still life to Surrealism. Shelf life positions Gall within these and the Photorealist traditions, with insightful written contributions and stunning reproductions of his work bringing his trompe-l'oeil oil on canvas creations to life.