Gauntlet Gallery — Ron English Print Index
Grade School Guernica
Summary
Grade School Guernica is Ron English's 2011 giclee edition after his monumental original, a 27-foot-wide, 12-foot-high painting conceived for the Station Museum in Houston in 2006. Printed on Somerset Enhanced Radiant White satin 330gsm paper at 49 x 100 cm, it is an edition of 95 reproducing English's cartoon-populated homage to Picasso's antiwar masterpiece.
Why It Matters
This is English at his most ambitious, recasting Picasso's Guernica with the cast of American cartoon culture to interrogate violence, innocence, and childhood. The print makes a museum-scale statement accessible, and its explicit dialogue with a canonical modernist work sets it apart from his brand-parody output.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 95 on premium Somerset satin, the print carries added weight as a document of a major installation. Its panoramic 49 x 100 cm format is a display centerpiece. Collectors value the direct lineage to the Station Museum original; confirm signature, numbering, and first-edition status before purchase.
Historical Context
Picasso painted Guernica in 1937 in response to the bombing of a Basque town. English's grade-school reimagining, first shown in Houston in 2006 and editioned in 2011, transplants that antiwar outcry into the visual language of American childhood, questioning what imagery a culture feeds its young.
FAQ
What is Grade School Guernica based on?
It reinterprets Picasso's 1937 antiwar painting Guernica using cartoon characters, from English's monumental original made for Houston's Station Museum in 2006.
How big was the original?
The original painting measured roughly 27 feet wide by 12 feet high.
What is the edition size and format?
An edition of 95, printed on Somerset Enhanced Radiant White satin 330gsm paper at 49 x 100 cm.
Why is this piece significant in English's work?
It directly engages a canonical modernist masterpiece, standing apart from his consumer-brand parodies as a large-scale statement on violence and childhood.
About the Artist
Ron English is an American contemporary artist born in 1959, widely regarded as a founding figure of the "POPaganda" movement, which fuses pop art with political and cultural satire. He is known for subverting corporate advertising and cultural icons, creating characters such as MC Supersized and the three-eyed "Temper Tot," and reimagining figures like Ronald McDonald and cartoon mascots. English has worked across billboards, canvas, murals, and collectible art toys, and his imagery has appeared in films and album covers. His work critiques consumerism, mass media, and branding through a bright, hyper-pop visual language.
Collecting Ron English at Gauntlet Gallery
Where should I begin with Ron English?
Signed, numbered screenprints and giclees featuring his signature characters are strong entry points, while hand-embellished editions and originals sit at the top. His art toys and figures also draw dedicated collectors. Gauntlet Gallery prioritizes clean, well-registered impressions with complete signing.
How is authenticity documented?
Ron English works are sold with documented studio provenance and the artist's signature and numbering. We photograph the exact piece you receive, including the signature and edition details, so you can confirm authenticity before purchase.
What drives Ron English's value?
Iconic characters, edition size, hand-embellishment, condition, and documented provenance are the main value drivers. Low-numbered, embellished, and original works consistently outperform open or larger editions.