Psychedelicatessen: A Powerful Dose of Art by Steve Marcus

Take a long, strange trip into NYC artist Steve Marcus’ cartoon universe of kosher folk art with a new series of works of Jewish pop art inspired by a parodic fusion of the psychedelic counter culture of the 1960s with Judaism and Jewish culture. Marcus’ hand drawn works on paper and handmade objects are colorful and comical flashbacks that take the viewer on a mystical tour on the magic bus, down an irreverent and insightful road that reveal a quirky sense of humor and a passion for his own roots and culture. Marcus’ new project seamlessly marries his Jewish spirituality with his past work in the counterculture and the cannabis reform movement, putting a modern spin on Jewish topics that create alternative cultural classics for a new generation of Jews. Turn on, tune in, drop in and enjoy, laugh, and space out on Steve Marcus’ kabbalistic Jewish artwork inspired by underground comics, Hasidism, Jewish tradition, and the psychedelic art of the free love era. Shalom and Ahava.

About the Artist

Born in the Summer of Love, August 1969, Steve Marcus creates his art in his Lower East Side studio. Inspired by one of New York City’s most important and historic Jewish neighborhoods, once home to the Yiddish Theatre, the Fillmore East, as well as other popular and unpopular cultural and religious touchstones. Recognized in the 2015 publication, “A Jewish People’s History of the Lower East Side,” as one of the Lower East Side’s most culturally influential residents, Marcus has developed an international reputation in the art world over the past 36 years.

Marcus (aka smarcus) has received honors and awards from the American Society of Illustrators. He has works in numerous permanent collections, among them, The Oakland Museum of California, The Jewish Museum of Florida, The Yiddish Book Center, The Ludlow Santo-Domingo Poster Collection at the Harvard Library, The International Counterculture Archive at George Washington University, The Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History in Vilnius, Lithuania, Galicia Jewish Museum, The Miami-Dade PLS, and private art collections in the United States and abroad. His archives are held at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. He’s exhibited numerous times at Art Basel in Miami, Florida, The Museum at Eldridge Street in NYC, and The Comics Museum in Krakow, Poland, The Samuel Bak Museum in Vilnius, Lithuania, The Maine Jewish Museum, The Everhart Museum, The Sherwin Miler Museum of Jewish Art, The Bernard Heller Museum in NYC, The Jerusalem Biennale as well as other prestigious institutions and art galleries. He has Also created art for and collaborated with Allen Ginsberg, Ken Kesey, Timothy Leary, the Miguel Pinero Estate, The New Orleans Jazz Museum, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and created artwork and illustrations for the United Nations, The New York Times, MTV, High Times, The Cannabis Cup, Guitar World, Tattoo International, The Source, Condé Nast Publications, Esquire and Nickelodeon. You can learn more about Steve Marcus and his art at smarcus.com and you can follow him on Instagram @smarcusart.