Rick Menard’s a cool guy. He was a rebellious young whippersnapper who flipped his mom the bird when she told him to wash his hands once, this self-proclaimed smartass now spends his time making surrealist art that serves as a form of social commentary. Here are some of his paintings that really hit the nail on the head.

“Cyber-Love”

The internet plays a bigger role in our lives than our own mothers these days. You can buy food, clothes, sex aids and all sorts of good stuff via the World Wide Web. More importantly, you can socialise on it. You meet new people online, you count them as friends if you want to, then you come across someone you’re somewhat attracted to, you delve in deeper and you instantly see a future for you and that person via stalking their public profile(s).

You feel weird at first but then end up “sliding into their DMs” asking if they wanna go for a drink or “hang out”. Next thing you know you’re rejected and find yourself lonely and wanting that person even more. You’re in love with a social network profile and there’s nothing you can do with it.

This painting, however, seems to be tackling the issue of extra-marital affairs that begin via computers, whether it’s a saucy email from your secretary or you’re sending your boss dick pics, stop it. Stop it now and tell your partner you love them.


“Coffee Kulture”

Over a decade of “going for coffee” being a thing and I still don’t understand why it is such a thing. As a former barista I would find it hard to understand why people would meet up for a coffee. They’d actually sit down, drink coffee and pretend to enjoy it, as well as each other’s company. Let’s face it, coffee tastes awful. We all put loads of sugar in it or just get a mocha to mask the ugly taste. You know that, deep down inside, you’re lying to yourselves if you actually find the refining bitterness of your black coffee “enjoyable on the palate” or whatever.

This piece by our man Menard nails the coffee shop market being devoured by the hipster crowd… as you can see by the hipsters devouring their coffees in a coffee shop.


“God of America”

This one is very self-explanatory. The classic “IN GOD WE TRUST” tagline underneath the Eye of Providence with what seems to be God in a superhero costume hovering above, being flanked by two classic American things: a bald eagle and Mickey Mouse, in angel form of course.
Obviously this toys with the idea that God is America’s saviour and that everything great comes from him… possibly via America. Heck, even winning the lottery or finding a four-leaf clover is probably an act of God, proudly sponsored by the United States of America!


“Blue Dude”

I sense great vulnerability, a manchild crying out for love, an innocent orphan in the post-modern world. I see a parasite, a sexually depraved miscreant, who is seeking only to gratify his basest and most immediate urges.

His struggle is man’s struggle, he lifts my spirit. He is a loathsome, offensive brute, yet I can’t look away. He transcends time and space. He sickens me, I love it.

Basically, I don’t know why but I really like this painting.

If you want to see more of Rick Menard’s awesome work check him out at his website here.

Link: http://www.rickmenardart.com/