Delve into the mind’s eye of enlightenment with Johnny Romeo’s Bullet Proof Vision. Fusing psychedelic mysticism with attention-grabbing Pop imagery, the artwork explores Pop culture as a modern form of spirituality. The figure of the trippy Sphynx cat with three eyes stares intensely at the audience, evoking the wisdom of an ancient oracle as he broadcasts his message of Poptimism over the airwaves. Initially beginning his life as a humble stray cat, this divine feline can now see beyond the ordinary, using his third eye to ascend into the heightened consciousness of a Hindu mystic. Graced with ‘bullet-proof vision’, Romeo’s sacred Sphinx cat cuts through the cacophony of contemporary life as he makes sense of the infinite imagery we encounter in our Pop-driven reality. The artist infuses the painting with humour and clever wordplay, transforming his pious feline into a ‘cool cat’ with the phrase ‘Stay Stray Fresh.’ This notion of ‘freshness’ is further explored through the term ‘Paw’, rendered in the font of the legendary American skate brand Santa Cruz. Romeo playfully manipulates this word, allowing it to be read as both ‘Paw’ and ‘Pow’. The onomatopoeia ‘of Pow’ injects the piece with a lively Pop energy that recalls the frenzy of modern life. Conversely, ‘Paw’, serves as a meditative counterbalance, urging viewers to stay grounded amidst an oversaturated, overstimulated Pop landscape. Bullet Proof Vision is a dynamic exploration of perception and spirituality, where the humorous and profound are brought together in divine balance.

Prepare for a knockout punch that packs serious bite with Johnny Romeo’s Kitsch Pop homage to the legendary boxer Mike Tyson, Double Grind. Full of bold colour arrangements and energetic imagery, the painting captures boxing’s former wild child in all his glory, decked out in championship belts and ready to rumble. Romeo’s dynamic double-vision diptych playfully explores the wild ride of Iron Mike’s career, from his ferocious early days to his dramatic post-prison comeback. With tongue firmly in cheek, Romeo injects a grim sense of humour to the painting, using his double Mike as an allusion to the two bites that made Tyson infamous the world over during his 1997 ear-biting incident. A cut above your ‘average’ boxer, ‘Young Average Savage’ nods to Tyson’s brazen confidence and raw power, showcasing the era when he reigned supreme as the Kid Dynamite of the heavyweight championship world and juggled his WBA, WBC, and IBF belts like a pro. As the artwork unfolds, we see Tyson’s transformation from a wild storm to a controlled hurricane, reflecting his evolving fighting style. Double Grind as a title and a mission statement celebrates Tyson’s relentless determination to reclaim his titles in 1996 after being released from prison, encapsulating the boxer’s transformative journey from an unhinged force of nature to a fighter who has mellowed and found inner peace over time. 

In Dream Force, Johnny Romeo envisions an intergalactic, Technicolor Pop future where even the most sinister villains can find spiritual enlightenment. The painting reimagines the iconic Sith Lord, Darth Vader, as a tranquil, cross-legged Buddhist monk deep in meditation. Galaxies away from the ruthless imperial general feared by the Rebel Alliance, Romeo’s Vader exudes serene stillness. Retaining his distinctive black helmet, Vader abandons his fearsome armour and lethal red lightsabre for humble monk robes, signifying his dedication to Zen Buddhism and renunciation of violent conquest. Floating harmoniously in the lotus position like a satellite of positivity, Darth Vader’s calm demeanour suggests a transformation into a spiritual leader who has overcome his inner demons and experienced divine awakening. In this transcendental state, Romeo’s reformed Sith Lord uses the Force for good rather than evil—a poignant idea encapsulated in the title Dream Force, which plays on the Dark Side of the Force from Star Wars. Romeo emphasizes Vader’s journey from darkness to light with the phrase ‘Be Here Now’, a powerful mantra encouraging presence and mindfulness. This chant is cleverly modified to ‘Be Metta Now’, a reference to the Buddhist concept of mettā which embodies loving-kindness, goodwill, and peace. Through this ‘metta’morphosis, Romeo skilfully juxtaposes Vader’s former reputation for evil with his new role as a galactic guru beaming messages of non-violence and universal love across the heavens. Dream Force masterfully blends Pop culture with profound spiritual themes, inviting viewers to explore the possibilities of redemption through Romeo’s vibrant Kitsch Pop lens. 

Brush arms with hip hop royalty in Front Row Shine, a vibrant meditation on what it takes to earn your crown on the mean streets of the concrete jungle. Wrought in Romeo’s unmistakeable Kitsch Pop style, the artwork explores the fascination of rappers with royalty, from Kanye West and Jay Z’s ‘Watch the Throne’ to the regal presence of Queen Latifah. At the centre of the painting, a majestic, rainbow-colored night owl gazes piercingly at the viewer, embodying the spirit of a street-hardened emcee on the path to hip hop stardom. Above the owl hovers the crown famously worn by the Notorious B.I.G. during his iconic ‘K.O.N.Y’ portrait session by Baron Claiborne in 1997. Like Biggie, the owl exudes confidence and authority, yet his crown remains just out of reach, a hovering satellite that symbolizes the relentless pursuit of greatness. Romeo explores this theme through his alteration of the phrase ‘Night Crown’ to ‘Night Owl,’ highlighting the tireless effort required to stay ahead of the game. The owl represents wisdom and transformation, reminding us that success in ruling the streets demands more than beats and flows—it requires continual growth and self-actualization. The imagery of the blue moon further reinforces this narrative of renewal and new beginnings, drawing a parallel to hip hop’s jazzy origins by paying homage to the cultural legacy of the beloved standard ‘Blue Moon.’ At the same, Romeo’s clever use of lunar motifs imbues the work with a feel-good irreverence that nods to the distinct colour of the American Blue Moon beer logo. Front Row Shine captures the essence of Johnny Romeo’s Poptimistic vision, where ascending to the hip hop throne means finding the inspiration to beam yourself up into the heavens, beyond the orbit of your peers.

With his signature touch of gleeful Absurdism, Sub Pop sees Johnny Romeo playfully explore the royalty dispute surrounding Nirvana’s iconic X-Eye Smiley Face logo. This enduring symbol of youthful angst, whose origins remain mysterious, is said to have been designed by Kurt Cobain in 1991, possibly inspired by the Seattle strip club The Lusty Lady. Other accounts suggest that the logo was created by Sub Pop’s first art director Lisa Orth and designer Grant Alden. The legal controversies peaked in 2020 when Robert Fisher, an art director at Geffen Records, claimed he designed the logo and sought royalties. Romeo humorously delves into this this legal tussle by merging the yellow Nirvana logo with the body of a Napoleonic royal dressed in distinguished regalia. Drawing inspiration from Nirvana’s 1993 grunge anthem ‘Pennyroyal Tea’, the wordplay of ‘Royal Tease’ comically questions the whereabouts of the royalties from the Nirvana logo. A master of visual puns, Romeo ‘teases’ the audience with only half a royal figure, a humorous gesture which plays on the sleazy striptease of The Lusty Lady. The title Sub Pop pays homage to the legendary Seattle-based record label that signed Nirvana and popularized grunge music in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Redirecting the reference inward, Romeo reclaims the term ‘Sub Pop’ to describe his own practice of culture jamming, in which he substitutes (‘subs’) and appropriates imagery to create refreshing new forms of Pop art. 

Defy death with Johnny Romeo’s rollicking homage to the immortal rockstar Elvis Presley, Young Suede. In the painting, Elvis is reimagined as a neon-drenched crooning skeleton who has been revived through the raw energy and electrifying thrill of rock’n’roll. Clad in a sharp suit and boasting a killer pompadour, the King of rock’n’roll leans seductively into the mic, belting out tunes with the charisma of a rockstar who refuses to let death dim his spotlight. Bathed in Technicolor brilliance, Romeo’s portrayal of undead Elvis captures the charisma and enduring spirit of a universally beloved icon whose influence has inspired generations of guitar slingers and would-be rockstars. Here, Elvis becomes a symbol of perpetual motion and boundary-pushing creativity, blazing his own path and beaming positivity even beyond the grave. The artwork’s title, Young Suede, cleverly nods to Elvis’ legendary hit ‘Blue Suede Shoes,’ encapsulating this zombified icon’s newfound lease on the afterlife. Romeo’s wit shines through in the phrase ‘Never Fall,’ where Elvis triumphs over mortality and leaves an indelible mark on Pop culture. The artist’s play on words with ‘Never Stall’ reinforces the anthem of a cadaverous crooner relentlessly pursuing eternal cool. Young Suede is a testament to Johnny Romeo’s mastery in blending humour and iconography, proving once and for all that the spirit of rock’n’roll never dies—it just takes on a different groove.