Tag: Neon

The Neon White Hat by Borbay, Jean-Baptiste Greuze’s Re-Mastered

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.

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2022 — Painting, Vegas, NFT’s, Breaking 80

2022 began with a trip to Circa Resort & Casino to create this 30″X40″ painting of Vegas Vickie, on-location. In collaboration with Circa — we used this work as the cornerstone for a pioneering series of NFT’s, with suite (ha) utility. Word on The Street? This is big news.

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Las Vegas History In Realtime — The Vegas Vickie NFT Project

Las Vegas, NV — On January 28th — I began a painting of Vegas Vickie, on-location, at Circa Resort & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas. Typically, I finish a work, post it here — and that’s a wrap. However, Vegas Vickie is a demanding mistress — the painting wasn’t enough.

With this, the wheels of history were put in motion. What began as a conversation with Mr. Jeff Victor, Vice President of Circa, is coming to life — in the Vegas Vickie NFT Project.

Vegas Vickie Painting by Borbay

On February 2, 2022… I signed Vickie to a round of applause (I share this detail, because it’s extremely rare and incredibly awesome for an artist).

In attendance were… Circa Owner Derek Stevens, Mr. Victor and his lovely wife Sheila (pictured above with yours truly); Scott Roeben of Vital Vegas, the amazing Circa team that supported me all week; a group of my beloved friends including Brandy, Patrick, Raiderman, Chas, Pat, Shannon, Garrett and Angelica; and, of course, some beautiful casino patrons.

Behind the scenes — our historic blockchain project was already under way. Before I go way back and tell you everything — check out The Vegas Vickie NFT Splash Page. Sign-up with your email — we’ll discover the future together.

Now, let’s hop in the DeLorean with Marty, and see the past.

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Felix Chevrolet Neon Painting by Borbay

Felix Chevrolet Los Angeles Painting by Borbay

If you find yourself in Los Angeles, head over to 3330 S Figueroa Street at dusk… look upward… and soak in Felix Chevrolet’s majestic sign. If the movies have taught us anything, it’s this — product placements are everywhere. E.T. could have desired M&M’s… but Mars dropped the ball, and he got them Reeses. For headaches, Wayne Campbell prefers Nuprin, for they are, “little, yellow, different.”

Yes, the 80’s, 90’s and today… era’s so ripe with brand crossovers — it has become the norm. Now — turn back the clock to 1921, and imagine how innovative the collaboration between Pat Sullivan’s cartoon cat Felix, and Winslow B. Felix‘s car dealership was? Brilliant. And so, please join me on a creation adventure, shared through pictures and prose.

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The Western Motel, Sayre Oklahoma — A Route 66 Painting

Western Motel Painting by Borbay

Ready for some random trivia? I’ve driven across the United States seven times, and spent at least two nights in every state (save for Alaska — I’ve never been).

During those adventures, I’ve traversed every mile of Route 66… also, affectionately known as ‘The Mother Road’. So, when a gentleman with a Route 66 email address signed-up for my newsletter — I had to find out more. Following a brief correspondence, I discovered Robert Gehl is on the Route 66 Association of Missouri Board of Directors… specifically, Advisor for the Neon Heritage Preservation team. It was through these conversations that Robert put The Western Motel, in Sayre, OK on my radar.

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2020 Year In Review

See More of in 2020

Ah, retrospect. This is how I kicked-off the year. On the precipice of 2021, we now know the answer is “less of 2020.”

Friend — destinations to digest the horrors of 2020 are legion… worry not! This is a happy place.

So grab a cocktail (you deserve it), kick back, and let’s have a look at some quarantine-driven creativity.

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Hotel Chelsea Painted by Borbay

Chelsea Hotel Painting by Borbay

Several beers deep, meandering past the Chelsea Hotel… I was beckoned — “Hit the bodega. Buy a sixer. Come inside.”

Make like a dealer, avoid eye contact, get to the elevators… climb stairs, lose yourself, absorb art…mingle with ghosts. On the roof, crack a beer, grab a hammock, take in the washed out stars… what does it all mean?

Hotel Chelsea by Borbay

If you told me I’d paint this picture in my 40th year, living in Idaho as a father of three…

Introducing my latest, a 20”X20”X1.5”, acrylic and enamel painting of ‘The Chelsea’. Of late, I’ve been compelled to experiment… put away the ruler and paint with emotion. Buy the ticket, take the ride.

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The Virginian Jackson Hole, a Borbay Neon Painting

The Virginian Lodge Jackson Hole Painting by Borbay

Introducing, my latest neon painting — ‘The Virginian’ — an iconic beacon in the Jackson Hole skyline. But why The Virg? Why now?

Well, you may have heard the property is on sale for a crisp $60,000,000 (the painting will be available for slightly less)… and, as it happens, the broker is friend, collector and patient golf partner — Greg Prugh. So, I figured the timing was perfect.

Care to see this beauty come together in 46 seconds? Look no further than the link above… set to the aptly named track, “Borbay 2.0”, courtesy of my guys Nelson and Ahmed.

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