L.A. painter/illustrator Joe Sorren has a new solo show at Billy Shire Fine Arts, and oh my god did his work get expensive! It’s a lovely show, which, not surprisingly, is completely sold out, with works ranging in price from $18,000 to $80,000. But with celebrity fans, a masterful technique, and colorful paintings that appeal to the innocent kid in all of us, the high prices are to be expected (Does this mean the autographed front page of the book he signed for us is actually worth something too?).

The show (and the painting above) is titled “While the Trucks on the Highway All Howl,” and several of the paintings depict young boys and girls playing in the sand on a beach — a faded, favorite memory of many. If you’ve not heard of Joe Sorren before, you’ve likely seen his illustrations in your favorite magazines or the on the album covers of your favorite artists. His images are child-like and innocent, and though his subjects have the faces of angels, they are weighed down by major bouts of loneliness. Here are some of the images from the rest of the show:

This is “Dialog”:

Three of Sorren’s lovely ladies, each from a different piece in the show:

“I Had a Dream Last Night That I Punched You in the Face”:

“But Alive and Living”:

To see the show in person visit Billy Shire Fine Arts in Culver City, California.

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