By: Jeremy Murphy

On the polished walls of Carlton Fine Arts on Madison Avenue, icons of music, cinema, and modern mythology come together in a dynamic and visually engaging display. But this isn’t simply a tribute—it’s a reimagining of pop art through the eyes of DeVon, the contemporary artist whose work blends nostalgia with a bold, modern perspective. With a career spanning more than 60 solo exhibitions and a roster of celebrity collectors that includes Mariah Carey, and DeVon has firmly established himself as a recognized figure in 21st-century pop art.

This May, DeVon returns to the gallery that helped launch his career with a new exhibition featuring some of his most recent works. “I owe Carlton Fine Arts a lifetime of gratitude,” he reflects. “They’re the gallery that really kicked my career off. It’s almost like something out of Great Expectations—a guy from nowhere getting his chance to exhibit in New York.” That chance encounter, a serendipitous moment during the Sundance Film Festival in 2011, led directly to his first show on Madison Avenue. Fifteen years later, he’s back, occupying the first two floors of the gallery with more than 80 works that span the cultural spectrum—from Marilyn Monroe and The Godfather to The Beatles and Ferrari.

DeVon’s artistic journey began with early mentorship under Steve Kaufman, the former assistant to Andy Warhol. “I started working in silk screens because that’s what Steve taught me,” DeVon recalls. “But over time, I felt it was time to evolve the medium. Silk screens have a lower resolution because of the dot patterns. I wanted something sharper, more layered, and textured.” This desire sparked a creative evolution, incorporating collage, high-gloss resin, and even diamond dust into his canvases.

“It started with adding collage to the backgrounds, but people kept asking me, ‘Are those little pieces going to lift up someday?’ So, I submerged everything in resin, and it looked incredible. One layer led to another, and now those layers represent the decades that separate us from Warhol’s era,” he explains.

While DeVon’s work draws inspiration from pop art traditions, it’s far from a static reflection of the past. He actively incorporates elements from current culture into his pieces. “I have subscriptions to all the major magazines,” he says. “They come to my studio, and I tear them up to add fragments of today’s headlines into my collages. I’m still exploring the concept of celebrity, but it’s evolving. And I’m asking—what does celebrity mean today?”

Nowhere is that question more vividly explored than in his interpretation of The Godfather. Featuring Al Pacino’s iconic Michael Corleone seated in deep reflection, the work goes beyond nostalgic homage. “You kind of nailed the moral decay of that character,” he was told during a recent conversation. DeVon responded thoughtfully: “That one is a bit darker than some of the others, but there’s also hope. Michael ultimately tries to transform, to atone. The last film is about redemption. I think people connect with that struggle.”

DeVon’s Abbey Road series is equally striking. “The Beatles were the first global superstars,” he says. “They were experiencing something unprecedented, and I wanted to visualize what was happening inside their heads—this overwhelming phenomenon. That’s the beauty of my layered style. I can tell more of a story than a single photograph can.” Those stories often include what he calls “Easter eggs”—hidden symbols and cultural references embedded within the artwork, waiting to be discovered.

His material choices are as bold as his subjects. “The pop artists of the sixties and seventies used diamond dust, glitter—I’ve just added crystals and other embellishments they didn’t have back then. It’s a remix of their old elements into something new.” While some consider his work to be innovative, DeVon sees himself as part of a long tradition. “I’m following a 60-year-old tradition. But it’s a fresh take, and I love when people say, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before.’”

In an age dominated by streaming content and digital overload, DeVon still sees cultural relevance in today’s celebrity figures. “Taylor Swift, Beyoncé—there’s this glittering presence that fits perfectly with my style. They’re inspired by those who came before them, and now they’re inspiring the next generation.”

Yet for all the spectacle, optimism remains at the heart of DeVon’s work. “That’s intentional,” he says. “There’s so much chaos and change happening in the world. I want people to walk into a room and feel uplifted. If you put love into your environment, it returns the favor.”

His latest creations even push the boundaries of physical interactivity, with embedded LED lighting and motion detectors that respond to viewers. While some of these innovations won’t be ready for the Carlton show, he promises they’ll debut later this summer. “I’m always evolving. Every year, there’s a new layer—literally and figuratively.”

For now, New Yorkers can experience the culmination of that evolution firsthand. The exhibition at Carlton Fine Arts runs from May 15 through August 15, with all works available for purchase. And for those who believe art should not only reflect the world but inspire it, DeVon’s latest collection offers a compelling reminder that optimism and beauty still have a place on the canvas.

Published by Joseph T.