A new exhibit is now on display at the Laredo Center for the Arts. It mixes pop culture icons with a comic book style of superheroes. We had a chance to talk with Mike Stephens, the artist behind the exhibit, 'Super Ego,' who says he hopes his work challenges you to think about the world.
"My work is really about kind of social injustice, things i see wrong in the world, also wrong in my life."
Mike Stephens is the man behind a new exhibit at the Laredo Center for the Arts. An exhibit that he says is based on life experience.
"I wish I could just put on a superhero outfit and save the day, but i can't so i put myself as a fat overweight superhero with glasses that usually ends up being the victim."
He says his favorite piece in the exhibit is the last one he completed.
"My son just turned a year old and I've been the stay at home dad, so it's kinda about how my life has slowed down and stopped."
"I love it because it's mixing up all different types of genres, obviously there's an intricate type of artistry behind it."
The exhibit features 23 wood block prints. Stephens first had to carve the designs into wood, they were then printed in black and white using a press. Rosie Santos, Event Coordinator for the Center for the Arts, says people are drawn to Stephens' art because of it's comic book feel, and social commentary.
"I'm really impressed, every body's received it with open arms. I really didn't know how people were going to take it, but it's really cool because it does have a comic book style influence.”
Stephens, who wanted to be a comic book illustrator growing up, but now teaches art to college students in Corpus Christi, says it's been a difficult path to success, but encourages aspiring artists to never give up.
"Don't quit, this is a very tough field. The starving artist idea is not false, it's true."
Stephens has been teaching art for seven years now, and says he hopes to challenge his students to live out their dreams.
You can catch the exhibit at the Laredo Center for the Arts thorough the entire month of July.