For more than twenty years, world-renowned artist John Pugh has engaged and captivated the public with large scale mural projects in spaces across the United States, including San Francisco, Miami, and New York, as well as Taiwan and New Zealand. His trompe l’oeil ("trick of the eye") murals cleverly fool the viewer into seeing a modern facade’s broken wall revealing Greek columns or a bull grazing in front of an unfinished mural. But Pugh’s artworks also capture the imagination and engage the mind. Within a framework of artfully rendered illusionary space, he orchestrates layers of historical, social, and mythical commentary that challenge the viewer to find deeper levels of meaning...

For more than twenty years, world-renowned artist John Pugh has engaged and captivated the public with large scale mural projects in spaces across the United States, including San Francisco, Miami, and New York, as well as Taiwan and New Zealand. His trompe l’oeil ("trick of the eye") murals cleverly fool the viewer into seeing a modern facade’s broken wall revealing Greek columns or a bull grazing in front of an unfinished mural. But Pugh’s artworks also capture the imagination and engage the mind. Within a framework of artfully rendered illusionary space, he orchestrates layers of historical, social, and mythical commentary that challenge the viewer to find deeper levels of meaning.

With a body of work now exceeding two hundred murals, Pugh has been instrumental in revitalizing the trompe l’oeil genre, turning it into a legitimate and vital mode of artistic expression that is both aesthetically and intellectually challenging. The creation of Drain, a visual representation of Los Angeles’s infamous water wars of the late 1900s, provoked emotional responses from the city’s citizens, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the international media. In Pugh’s own words on the power of public art, "It can link people together, stimulate a sense of pride within the community, and imvoduce the viewer to new ideas and perspectives."

This first ever collection of Pugh’s work contains full-color representations of his thirty-five most famous murals, plus a complete discussion of the trompe l’oeil genre, fun "mural mishaps" about viewers reacting to the seemingly realistic murals, and an insider’s perspective on Pugh’s creative process from sketch to finished mural.

Foreword

Author’s Preface

Artist’s Statement

Introduction 

A Short Hislorv of the NaH’ative Trompe L’Oeil

Mural 4

Academe, 1981, Chico, California 12

Colonnade, 1986, Los Gatos, California 18

Rue du Chat-Qui-Peche, 1988, Palo Alto,

California 22

Mural sans Muras, 1989, Sacramento,

California 26

Siete Punto Uno, 1989, Los Gatos, California 32

The Root Series #1 and #2,1994 36

Crossroads, 1995, Palm Desert, California 39

Technology of the Future Past, 1996, San Jose,

California 42

Pompeian Niche with Krater, 1996, Los Gatos,

California 44

Art Imitating Life, ImitatingArt, Imitating Life,

1996, San Jose, California 46

The Doors oF AVignon, 1997, South San Fran

cisco, California 52

Interactive Child, ICTV, 1997, Los Gatos,

California 54

The Bath oF Venus, 1998, Atherton, Califbrnia 56

The Joshua Tree Chronicles, 1998, Victorville,

California 58

Slowin’ Down to Take a Look, 1998, Winslow,

Arizona 64

Pool of Thought, 1999, Fairbanks, Alaska 67

Study with Sphere and Water, 1999,

Jacksonville. Florida 71

SileNT Stream, 1999, Santa Clara, California 74

Jungle Hut, 1999, Santa Clara, California 76

The Gates of Opa Locka I and II, 2ooo. Miami,

Florida 78

Internal Melody, 2ooo, Havward, California 82

Woman In Cafe, 2ooo, Los Gatos, California 84

Valentine’s Day, 2000, Twentynine Palms,

California 86

E1 Rio de la Mercedes, 2ooo, Merced, California 90

Path Around the Son, 2001, Mountain View,

California 94

Light Walk, 2001 Palo Alto, California 98

Moss Canyon, 2001, Uvas, California 104

Reoerse, Lateral, and Loop, 2o02, Tehachapi,

California 106

Green Treasure (He Taonga Kakariki), 2002,

Rotorua, NewZealand 110

The Dirt on Bishop, 2003, Bishop, California 112

Seed, 2oo4, Sarasota, Florida 116

Green Scales Fell Like Rain, 2004, Dublin,

California 118

Trespasser, 2004, Los Altos Hills, California 122

Drain, 2005, Bishop, California 124

Sanctum Seclorum, 2006, northern California 130

New Murals. New Directions 132

Creating Mural Magic 141

The Studio 146

Photography Credits 151

Bibliography 153

Index 154

Interactive Child, ICTV, 1997, Los Gatos,

California 54

The Bath oF Venus, 1998, Atherton, Califbrnia 56

The Joshua Tree Chronicles, 1998, Victorville,

California 58

Slowin’ Down to Take a Look, 1998, Winslow,

Arizona 64

Pool of Thought, 1999, Fairbanks, Alaska 67

Study with Sphere and Water, 1999,

Jacksonville. Florida 71

SileNT Stream, 1999, Santa Clara, California 74

Jungle Hut, 1999, Santa Clara, California 76

The Gates of Opa Locka I and II, 2ooo. Miami,

Florida 78

Internal Melody, 2000, Havward, California 82

Woman In Cafe, 2000, Los Gatos, California 84

Valentine’s Day, 2000, Twentynine Palms,

California 86

E1 Rio de la Mercedes, 2000, Merced, California 90

Path Around the Son, 2001, Mountain View,

California 94

Light Walk, 2001 Palo Alto, California 98

Moss Canyon, 2001, Uvas, California 104

Reoerse, Lateral, and Loop, 2o02, Tehachapi,

California 106

Green Treasure (He Taonga Kakariki), 2002,

Rotorua, NewZealand 110

The Dirt on Bishop, 2oo3, Bishop, California 112

Seed, 2oo4, Sarasota, Florida 116

Green Scales Fell Like Rain, 2004, Dublin,

California 118

Trespasser, 2004, Los Altos Hills, California 122

Drain, 2oo5, Bishop, California 124

Sanctum Seclorum, 2oo6, northern California 130

New Murals. New Directions 132

Creating Mural Magic 141

The Studio 146

Photography Credits 151

Bibliography 153

Index 154