David Lozeau paints Western art with Day of the Dead flair and builds his own wood frames with rusty wrought iron clavos and hinges to capture the very essence of the rugged and fantastical Old West.
The notion of the “Wild West” dates back to the 19th century when explorers from the young colonies set out to grow crops and establish trade routes beyond the borders of Mississippi. The dusty plains of Texas and Arizona introduced settlers to new business opportunities and life-threatening challenges, which gave birth to the lawless, timeless cowboy lore.
From ranchers to gunslingers to miners to prostitutes, poor migrants and wealthy entrepreneurs alike exploited the American frontier for gain. And with ambition came corruption; a man could be shot over a simple hand of poker and there was only a very fine line between a marshal and an outlaw.
The Old West summons images of land rushes, Mexican banditos, the Pony Express, six shooters, Native American tribes, the transcontinental railroad, and a gritty world bustling just beyond the federal government’s reach. And that’s the side of the story Lozeau tells through his Lowbrow style of Dia de los Muertos artwork that depicts derringer-toting flamenco dancers, brazen mariachi, and steely law dogs.
