James Franco & Kalup Linzy
Dreams, Fame and the Savage

The Breeder presents “Dreams, Fame and the Savage”, an exhibition by internationally acclaimed video and performance artist Kalup Linzy and Academy Award-nominated actor, producer, writer and visual artist James Franco. The show features newly created collaborative works alongside individual pieces that explore themes of fame, moral values and social roles through the lens of mass culture, reality television and Hollywood.

The exhibition includes the premiere of “The Real Housewives in Tulsa”, a satirical film by Kalup Linzy and James Franco that adopts the aesthetics of reality television to examine ethical frameworks, interpersonal relationships and societal dynamics. Additionally, a series of collaborative collages on canvas inspired by the film’s characters are presented, blending the creative approaches of both artists.

James Franco’s musical “Lana Land”, a tribute to the legendary Hollywood actress Lana Turner, is also being screened for the first time, accompanied by a series of paintings on cotton fabric. Kalup Linzy presents a deeply personal series of drawings on paper that reflect his life story while showcasing his signature style.

The artistic collaboration between Kalup Linzy and James Franco began in 2009, sparking a body of work that blurs the lines between visual art, film and performance. From their joint appearance in the General Hospital series to live performances and musical collaborations, they have consistently pushed the boundaries of their practices.

The exhibition Dreams, Fame and the Savage reunites the two artists, merging Linzy’s sharp cultural critique with Franco’s intricate narrative approach, fostering a dynamic dialogue.

Kalup Linzy (b. 1977, Clermont, Florida) earned his MFA from the University of South Florida and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Linzy has received numerous awards, including the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, a Creative Capital Foundation Grant, and a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Film and Video. His work is held in the public collections of The Studio Museum in Harlem, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. He has collaborated with Chloë Sevigny, Natasha Lyonne, Liya Kebede, Proenza Schouler and Diane von Fürstenberg. He is also the founder and director of Queen Rose Art House in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and a Tulsa Artist Fellowship Alumni in Residence.

James Franco (b. 1978, Palo Alto, California) explores themes of identity, celebrity and self-representation in his work. He often examines the structures of Hollywood and mass entertainment, deconstructing the glamour and mythology of fame through a blend of painting, video and performance. His works have been exhibited at prominent institutions, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, The Clocktower Gallery in New York, Peres Projects in Berlin, Gagosian in Beverly Hills and Pace Gallery in New York.

Supported by the Tulsa Artist Fellowship