Philip Gerald, Edouard Manet Bootleg, 2025, acrylic on linen, 55 x 71 inches, 140 x 180 cm.
The Hole is pleased to present Art Mystery, Philip Gerald’s New York solo debut. The title nods to his approach of spoofing canonical art history, but also gestures more simply toward art as a mystery. “That’s how I think art works best—especially humor in art,” says Gerald. “If you have to explain the joke, it’s probably not funny.”
Fortunately, Gerald is funny. His compositions are irreverent, farcical, and satirical—painted in a fluorescent palette that bursts with both joy and absurdity, to be taken seriously and not seriously. With titles like Boner Shack, The Piss, and Painting Cronus with my Ass, the Dublin-based painter channels a distinctly Irish wit, relishing vulgarity and faux pas. “From reading Joyce, Beckett, and Flann O’Brien, there’s a thread of irreverence that runs through Irish society. I’m sure there’s post-colonial psychology in there, but that’s another thing altogether.”
“Bootleg” paintings form the backbone of the show, originating from Gerald’s response to Douglas Gordon’s Bootleg Empire. These have since become a signature: mischievous riffs on hits from museum trips—Picasso Bootlegs, Matisse Bootlegs, Goya Bootlegs. In Art Mystery, mythological references appear more prominently, with Gerald diving into Homer, Sophocles, Aeschylus, Hesiod—“all the lads”—as well as Irish mythology. These highbrow touchstones are filtered through comic irreverence: in Laocoön and His Sons, the figures are rendered in graphite with wobbly emoji faces; in Birth of Aphrodite, the goddess wears sports socks.
The images begin as quick iPad sketches, but turning them into paintings—while preserving that digital immediacy—is painstaking. “There’s something funny about these disposable digital drawings taking so long to make as paintings. It started as a joke; I’ve kept going for years.” In person, the artist’s hand comes through: precise tape lines, delicate texture shifts, and matte neon colors capture a kind of screen-like glow.
In the rear gallery, an installation of works on paper accompanies a new video that provides fictional but “informative” context. Narrated by Gerald’s alter ego, it covers topics including pee (as stream of consciousness or bodily trap), memory’s role in making better art, and the supposed relocation of galleries from cities to caves—citing rising overhead and a cooling market. “It’s bloated and heavy-handed,” Gerald says. “It’s satirical, but also a bit of a mirror.”
We could flaunt our art history degrees here—name the references, chart the juxtapositions, underline the digital-age resonance—but that might ruin the joke. Best to leave the Art Mystery for you to solve.
Philip Gerald (b. 1992, Dublin, Ireland) lives and works in Dublin. He studied Fine Art Sculpture and Visual Culture at the National College of Art and Design. Gerald has exhibited internationally, with solo shows at Mindy Solomon Gallery (Miami), Over the Influence (Hong Kong), and Tuesday to Friday (Valencia).
Philip Gerald, The Dawn of Man, 2025, acrylic on linen , 51 x 59 inches, 130 x 150 cm.
Philip Gerald, The Three Graces, 2025, acrylic on linen, 40 x 39 inches, 103 x 100 cm.
Philip Gerald, Odysseus and Polyphemus, 2025, acrylic on linen, 45 x 27 inches, 115 x 70 cm.
Philip Gerald, Francisco Goya Bootleg, 2025, acrylic on linen, 33 x 25.5 inches , 85 x 65 cm.
Philip Gerald, Pablo Picasso, 2025, acrylic on linen , 23.5 x 27 inches, 60 x 70 cm.
Philip Gerald, The Creation Of The World, 2025, acrylic on linen, 23.5 x 27 inches, 60 x 70 cm.
Philip Gerald, Henri Matisse bootleg, 2025, acrylic and flashe on canvas, 9.5 x 7.5 inches, 25 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, The Piss, 2025, acrylic and flashe on canvas, 7.5 x 9.5 inches, 20 x 25 cm.
Philip Gerald, Crann Iúir, 2025, acrylic and flashe on canvas, 9.5 x 7.5 inches, 25 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, The Liquid of Life, 2025, acrylic and flashe on canvas, 9.5 x 7.5 inches, 25 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, Pablo Picasso Bootleg, 2025, acrylic and flashe on canvas, 9.5 x 7.5 inches, 25 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, Pablo Picasso Bootleg, 2025, acrylic and flashe on canvas, 9.5 x 7.5 inches, 25 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, An Damhsa, 2025, acrylic and flashe on canvas, 7.5 x 9.5 inches, 20 x 25 cm.
Philip Gerald, Sexy Trees of Avignon, 2025, gouache on paper, 12 x 16.5 inches, 30 x 42 cm.
Philip Gerald, Lonely Knight Contemplating What Makes A Painting Good, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 12 inches, 23 x 30 cm.
Philip Gerald , Matisse Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 14.5 x 11 inches, 37 x 29 cm.
Philip Gerald, Matisse Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 12 x 9 inches, 30 x 23 cm.
Philip Gerald, Picasso Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 12 x 9 inches, 30 x 23 cm.
Philip Gerald, Picasso Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 12 x 9 inches, 30 x 23 cm.
Philip Gerald, Picasso Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 12 x 9 inches, 30 x 23 cm.
Philip Gerald, Picasso Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 12 x 9 inches, 30 x 23 cm.
Philip Gerald, The Boner Corner at Barnes, 2025, gouache on paper, 11 x 8 inches, 28 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, Van Gogh Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 11 x 8 inches, 28 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, Preliminary Concept for the World's Biggest Boner (yet to be realised), 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 12 inches, 23 x 30 cm.
Philip Gerald, Matisse Bootleg, 2025, coloured pencil on paper, 8 x 12 inches, 21 x 30 cm.
Philip Gerald , Danse Macabre, 2025, gouache on paper, 8 x 12 inches, 21 x 30 cm.
Philip Gerald, Painting Cronus with my Ass, 2025, gouache on paper, 12 x 8 inches, 30 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Birth of Aphrodite, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 12 inches, 23 x 30 cm.
Philip Gerald , One Of The Range, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 10 inches, 23 x 26 cm.
Philip Gerald , Matisse Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 8 x 9.5 inches, 20 x 24 cm.
Philip Gerald , Boners in Art (Courbet), 2025, gouache on paper, 8 x 9 inches, 20 x 23 cm.
Philip Gerald, Van Gogh Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 7 x 8 inches, 18 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Hotdog, 2025, gouache on paper, 8 x 10 inches, 20 x 26 cm.
Philip Gerald, Matisse Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 9.5 x 8 inches, 24 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, How I Imagine A Good Day Might Go, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald , Cezanne Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, Van Gogh Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald , Matisse in Philadelphia, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald , Sexy Tree (Philipa), 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, Sexy Tree (Phoebe), 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, Sexy Tree (Phil), 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald , Van Gogh Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald , Matisse Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, Renoir Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald , Matisse in Philadelphia, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald, Cezanne Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 8 x 7.5 inches, 21 x 19 cm.
Philip Gerald , Sunflowers and Brushes, 2025, gouache on paper, 9 x 8 inches, 23 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Matisse Bootleg, 2025, gouache on paper, 10 x 7.5 inches, 25 x 19 cm.
Philip Gerald, Fruit, 2025, acrylic and gouache on paper, 6 x 12 inches, 15 x 30 cm.
Philip Gerald, Goya Bootleg, 2025, watercolour on paper, 9.5 x 8 inches, 24 x 20 cm.
Philip Gerald , Matisse Bootleg, 2025, colored pencil on paper, 9.5 x 8 inches, 24 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Ingres Bootleg, 2025, acrylic, gouache, colored pencil on paper, 8 x 6 inches, 21 x 15 cm.
Philip Gerald, Boner Shack, 2025, gouache on paper, 6 x 8 inches, 15 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Massive Brush, 2025, graphite on paper, 12 x 9 inches, 29 x 23 cm.
Philip Gerald , Painting The Three Graces, 2025, graphite on paper, 12 x 8 inches, 30 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald , Fragonard Bootleg, 2025, graphite on paper, 12 x 8 inches, 30 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Picasso Bootleg, 2025, graphite on paper, 12 x 8 inches, 30 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Creative Process, 2025, ink on paper, 8 x 12 inches, 21 x 30 cm.
Philip Gerald , Metamorphosis, 2025, graphite on paper, 9 x 7.5 inches, 23.5 x 19 cm.
Philip Gerald , *Self Portrait, 2025, graphite on paper, 10 x 8 inches, 25 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Iaocoon and His Sons, 2025, graphite on paper, 9.5 x 8 inches, 24 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Outdoor Painting with Brush in Ass, 2025, graphite on paper, 8 x 9.5 inches, 21 x 24 cm.
Philip Gerald, Mantegna Bootleg, 2025, graphite on paper, 6 x 8 inches, 14.5 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Creep, 2025, graphite on paper, 6 x 4.5 inches, 15 x 11.5 cm.
Philip Gerald , Brush Erected in Ass, 2025, graphite on paper, 8.5 x 8 inches, 22 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, Shit Portrait, 2025, graphite on paper, 7.5 x 7.5 inches, 19 x 19 cm.
Philip Gerald, *Matisse Bootleg, 2025, graphite and coloured pencil on paper, 7.5 x 6 inches, 19 x 15 cm.
Philip Gerald, Coffins of Avignon, 2025, ink on paper, 9 x 7.5 inches, 23.5 x 19 cm.
Philip Gerald, The Yew Tree, 2025, graphite on paper, 9.5 x 8 inches, 24 x 21 cm.
Philip Gerald, *St Sébastian II, 2025, graphite on paper, 7.5 x 5 inches, 19 x 13 cm.
Philip Gerald, Pumpkin, 2025, acrylic and gouache on paper, 4 x 6 inches, 10 x 15 cm.
Philip Gerald, Painting Fan, 2025, Graphite and acrylic on paper, 4 x 6 inches, 10 x 15 cm.
Philip Gerald, Boner Man, 2025, graphite on paper, 8 x 6 inches, 21 x 16 cm.
Philip Gerald, Portrait Boner, 2025, graphite on paper, 8 x 6 inches, 21 x 16 cm.
Philip Gerald, St Sebastian, 2025, Graphite on paper, 3.5 x 4.5 inches, 9 x 11 cm