ROBERT GORDON MCHARG III

GALLERY ETHER - TOKYO
13 JULY- 3 AUGUST 2024

Robert Gordon McHarg III is a multidisciplinary Canadian-British artist and has shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions, always thinking outside the box, challenging and exploring the power of art.

In 1995 Gordon - King of the Cut-Outs - McHarg staged in London “Sandpaper Blues”, a multi media art show opened by football legend George Best. The exhibition had its own soundtrack album of 36 original songs written for the event by musicians including Joe Strummer, Wayne Kramer, John Mayall and Maria McKee, part of the limited edition merchandise, ranging from T-shirts to sawdust.

Robert Gordon McHarg III
Robert Gordon McHarg III
Robert Gordon McHarg III

A retrospective exhibition of his childhood artworks “Je me souviens Gordon” in Vancouver, took place on a running local bus driving you to the show venue, the local Library. This idea led McHarg to the conception of “Art-Tube 01” which he curated. The work of 42 artists who each produced specially commissioned panels which were exhibited on an entire London Underground - Piccadilly Line - working train. Yoko Ono, Damien Hirst, Vivienne Westwood were among the participants.

McHarg also curated numerous art and music related exhibitions, including: “Joe Strummer Past, Present & Future” in London and Tokyo, “The Mick Jones Rock & Roll Public Library”, “Black Market Clash” and The Clash “London Calling” at the Museum of London.

In 2006 McHarg founded and run for over 10 years  - with his wife Alessandra Travagliati -  the Subway Gallery, his own iconic “underground” art gallery. Over 100 exhibitions took place, launching artists like Stik and it was also the filming location of video productions by Zoltar, Babyshambles and Massive Attack x Young Fathers featuring Rosamund Pike.

McHarg is an art director, designer and has produced art and music projects / albums releases for The Clash, the Joe Strummer Estate, John Cooper Clarke, The Good The Bad & The Queen, Galen & Paul, Gaz Mayall - The Trojans, Loose Records.

Gordon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an author. His irreverent Him Book, published by Trolley, depicts 101 comical portraits of “HIM” McHarg’s life size sculpture of art collector Charles Saatchi. Gordon has modelled for Yohji Yamamoto, Katharine Hamnett, Comme des Garçons, Takeo Kikuchi, Jameson whiskey and worked with photographers David Bailey, Juergen Teller, Marc Lebon & Masatoshi Nagase.

Robert Gordon McHarg III Subway Gallery
Robert Gordon McGarth III The Clash Soundsystem
Robert Gordon McGarth III Joe Strummer Subway Mick Jones The Clash
Robert Gordon McGarth III Joe Strummer Japan Exhibition

His latest venture is DJing weekly with his mates Paul Simonon, Jason Mayall, Dan Donovan along with guest DJs at his local pub The Royal Exchange - est.1832 - in Paddington London.
“There is nothing better than feeling part of a community
and being a part of something bigger than you are.
I stumbled into London in 1983 not knowing a soul 40 years
ago and was welcomed with open arms. It was the best
thing that ever happened to me, I can’t imagine living
anywhere else”.