Wally Hedrick Protested War With Sex

"For Hedrick, who was part of San Francisco's mid-century countercultural movement, these topics inspired decades of creative output through which he mused about philosophical issues and protested war and politics. The show is split between Parker Gallery, which frequently platforms artists from the Bay Area's storied art history, and The Box, which often highlights underrepresented artists and politically charged art."

"Hedrick was indeed a clever humorist. He rejected Abstract Expressionism at the height of its popularity, opting to do whatever he pleased, including painting a satirical commentary laced with sexual innuendo. "A Harry Fallick Production" (1959) refers to the increasing presence of the relatively new medium of television, also known as the "idiot box" at the time, in American culture."

Wally Hedrick was a mid-century San Francisco Beat artist who challenged taboos by centering his work on sex, politics, and religion—subjects considered inappropriate in 1950s-60s society. His first retrospective in 40 years, titled Sex Politics Religion, spans two galleries and reveals an artist who rejected Abstract Expressionism's dominance to pursue his own creative vision. Hedrick employed humor, satire, and sexual innuendo in his paintings, often incorporating text for visual and verbal puns. His work predominantly condemns war and celebrates heterosexual sex as joyous and spiritually transcendent. Early pieces satirize Abstract Expressionism and television culture, demonstrating Hedrick's wit and willingness to engage with contemporary media and philosophical questions.

Read at Hyperallergic