Bill Rastetter Urban Landscapes

La Jolla, December 11th, 2015 – Madison Gallery is pleased to present Urban Landscapes, Argentina, a new collection of works by CEO, philanthropist and artist Bill Rastetter. In this exhibition, Rastetter reflects on Argentina’s political activism and cultural fracture derived from the socio-political tumult of the mid 1960s. The showplace for art could no longer be a gallery or a museum and could no longer restrict itself of addressing an exclusive audience. Graffiti became a means of artistic and cultural dialogue. Urban Landscapes juxtaposes cultural and political realities still active in the Argentinean lexicon.

With Graffiti Mash-Ups, Rastetter creates a broader spectrum of experience for the viewer by “mashing up” two separate images to create each of the final pieces. So, none of the “subjects” in Graffiti Mash-Ups actually exist in the natural world; though they were photographed in Buenos Aires, they cannot be viewed on any street in the city.

Rastetter earned the S.B. degree in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an M.A. and Ph.D. both in chemistry from Harvard University. When not photographing, he helps fund and grow biotechnology companies. He has played significant roles in the founding and/or operations of IDEC Pharmaceuticals, Biogen Idec, Illumina, Receptos, Fate Therapeutics, Neurocrine Biosciences, Regulus Therapeutics and Cerulean Pharma. He also serves on the Advisory Council for Leerink Partners, a healthcare focused investment bank.
Founded in 2001, Madison Gallery is committed to representing emerging, mid-career and established international artists whom work in a range of media. Inspired by an earnest dedication and passion for art, the gallery consistently exhibits a high standard of contemporary art. Madison Gallery works closely in building private, corporate and public collections thus placing it amongst the leading contemporary galleries in California.