Introducing the largest canvas painting of my career, “Turned Myself to Face Me” — a 52.5″X94.5″, Acrylic on Belgian Linen partial collage-painting portrait of David Bowie.
This work began on January 10, 2025, and was signed on November 2, 2025. Bowie tested everything I knew about painting, and became the catalyst for significant creative and professional growth.
For Year Seventeen in my 20-Year-Guggenheim series, I returned to 89th Street and 5th Avenue to paint on-location. Once again, the vibes, energy, conversations and weather dictated the canvas… my reason for creating on-site.
Twenty-four years ago, I found myself wandering the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. There, I encountered many magnificent works from the usual suspects… Picasso, Stuart Davis, Pollock, El Greco — by all accounts, a nice little Saturday.
As I dove deeper into the collection, I stumbled upon “The White Hat” by Jean-Baptiste Greuze. This work stopped me dead in my tracks. The painting itself was magnificent. The brush strokes, the tonality, the chiaroscuro. Her gaze is both seductive and haunting. Painted around 1780, history maintains this figure was a figment of the artist’s imagination… an invented woman. I reject this notion. She struck me as real. Visceral.
Free-flowing, revealing outfits were en vogue in the late 1700’s… yes, and still — there is a staggering vulnerability on display. A salacious Mona Lisa of sorts. And so, 24 years later, White Hat found her way to my easel in first Minnesota, then Idaho, and became Re-Mastered.
Borbay live-paints the University of Wyoming Art Museum's Black Tie Gala. Watch his Thunderbird Lodge neon painting come to life, with behind the scenes photos and commentary.
It began with Amen Corner… last year, I went back to one… this year, I painted the second green at Augusta National. Typically, I begin during the first tee shot, and sign when the final putt drops. This year, I had the great fortune of playing a Member Guest during The Masters… and so, I was forced to finish post-tournament.
“Get The Picture” by Bianca Bosker is a fascinating art world exposé. The ART WORLD? Gigantic and infinitesimal. The center? Manhattan. My home of 13 years. Despite being full-time since July 2, 2009 — a self-represented artist based in Idaho is an extreme art world outsider.
Accordingly, the following had me spitting coffee:
“…at certain Brooklyn openings, you could reliably revive a stalled-out conversation by shitting on Gagosian, capitalism, or painting, all of which were roughly synonymous.”
Gold, Jerry. Gold! Right there and then, “Roughly Synonymous” was born.
“Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art.” — Andrew Warhola, aka, Andy Warhol.
This is my favorite Warhol quote. His mission to put a Warhol in every home, coupled with his desire for luxury proved a recipe for timeless success.
Having Marilyn at our dinner table for nearly 20 years — it was a must-add to my Re-Mastered series. And friend — Marilyn was begging for neon.
So often, the phone rings… and I wince. Unknown caller. Spam risk.
Not this time. The caller ID read “Trevor”. I was more than delighted to pick up for my friend, portrait subject and New York Islanders legend. Trevor was calling to introduce me to his close friend, Ray Carnes, Co-Founder of Recteq — purveyor of the best damn grills on the planet. We struck up a conversation… a chat that marked the beginning of this 30″X30″ collage-painting portrait.
To lead a professional sports league is rare. To lead two is unprecedented… that is, until Julius Erving, a.k.a. “Dr. J” — towered above, first, the ABA… then the NBA. The ABA was an amalgamation of historic risk-taking owners, managers, players, announcers, and colorful personalities. And so, this painting not only showcases an incredible athlete and human; it celebrates the entire American Basketball Association, which brought the world of basketball tri-colored balls and a dunking revolution.
My collector, friend and sometimes mentor, Robert Oringer and yours truly took our time to carefully curate this celebratory 48″X60″ collage painting.
New Paintings. Works-in-Progress. Insider Art Market Information.
Another newsletter? You got that right. I'll honor and respect your inbox, as if it were my own. I endeavor to share everything happening at Borbay Studios & Gallery. No daily updates. No weekly updates. Simply a message, every month or two... updates on life, creativity, and the journey that began on July 2, 2009. Let's be in touch, as the first leg of my quest reaches completion in 2026. From a studio in my 600-foot Upper East Side apartment living room, to a museum collection. Oh, but friend, that is just the beginning. The road is long, and I am looking for cool, sophisticated company to navigate each challenging turn.
New Paintings. Works-in-Progress. Insider Art Market Information.
Another newsletter? You got that right. I'll honor and respect your inbox, as if it were my own. I endeavor to share everything happening at Borbay Studios & Gallery. No daily updates. No weekly updates. Simply a message, every month or two... updates on life, creativity, and the journey that began on July 2, 2009. Let's be in touch, as the first leg of my quest reaches completion in 2026. From a studio in my 600-foot Upper East Side apartment living room, to a museum collection. Oh, but friend, that is just the beginning. The road is long, and I am looking for cool, sophisticated company to navigate each challenging turn.
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