Jack Armstrong hold his “million dollar bike” – a cruiser painted in his ‘Cosmic’ style.
A Los Angeles artist whose work often draws a six figure price tag has been accused of raping an unconscious woman.
Jack Nary Armstrong, 56, known for his “cosmic extensionalism” style of art, was arrested Friday. Armstrong’s most famous piece, a painted Harley Davidson, was valued at $1.1 million. A recent notable work is his painted bicycle, dubbed the CosmicStar Cruiser ARTBike, and said to be valued at $1 million. Armstrong has told the story of meeting Andy Warhol, whom he says dubbed him the “Last Wizard”. Armstrong’s art seems to be a mix of Jackson Pollack’s drip painting style with Leroy Neiman’s use of bright colors.
A typical Cosmic Work from Armstrong’s Twitter profile. His signature rests in the middle.
Armstrong does, however, seem to follow Andy Warhol’s interest in celebrity and notoriety, publicizing his splashy art projects rather than currying favor with art critics and museums. He posted a comment on an article about the gallery system in New York magazine stating “LARRY GAGOSIAN, Jay JOPLING, PACE gallery, HIRST, KOONS & Cattalan are OVER! TALENTED ARTISTS WILL RELACE THE OLD CARTEL AND MEGA “SYSTEM”!!! GREAT ART will be celebrated again: instead of non-soul, non-art by non-artists, with accountants & banker/gallerists running the show… JACK ARMSTRONG ARTIST L.A.” No references to Armstrong’s work could be found in any of the recognized critical art journals, or in published articles about Andy Warhol.
The victim, who met Armstrong at a West Hollywood bar, said she woke up after spending the night with him and realized she had been sexually assaulted. The assault may have been drug induced, investigators said. It was also reported that Armstrong had bought the woman several beers at a club, and that she had woken the next morning in a hotel room naked from the waist down. Though Armstrong was arrested Friday, November 22, the charges are based on the incident that occurred in March of 2010.
Jack Armstrong with one of his pieces.
Read more:
Los Angeles Times: ‘Cosmic artist’ Jack Armstrong arrested in alleged rape
CBS Los Angeles: ‘Cosmic’ Artist Jack Armstrong Arrested, Accused Of Rape
Beverly Hills Patch: ‘Cosmic Artist’ Jack Armstrong Arrested on Rape Count
