Renowned artist SHAG aka Josh Agle has
defined the 2000’s Pop Culture art scene.
He has become synonymous with Tiki culture and Mid Century Modern fine art, toys, books,
clothing and home decor.
Shag is at present, a well guarded Disney asset for many of their commemorative art prints
and anniversary merchandise.
In 2000, the boutique art gallery in Hollywood La Luz de Jesus showed Josh Agle’s first big show.
SHAG, as he has now become known,
created a few special prints for that showing 25
years ago that can only be purchased there.
The Heavenly Host is one such print which
features a deceased Sammy Davis Jr. chilling
out in an Eames chair, smoking and drinking
while members of his band play music for him
as little devils.
This print is special because it’s the 1st silkscreen in the series of 350.
How many people get a chance to own a SHAG #1 printing?
Not many, as I believe he might keep those for himself these days.
Here’s the rub… This print was in the poster flippers at La Luz de Jesus for 25 years being flipped through by stoner hipsters and sat there without anyone noticing this was print #1.
If you purchased a print, they gave you one from the archives that was in mint condition and had some higher number in the run.
I asked to buy this specific one and they weren’t too pleased, but agreed to open the cellophane and extract this print for me.
As a result of the 25 years of being entombed in cellophane, a few tiny pixels of ink came off here and there, maybe 5 dots total, and some light scuffs across the white boarder outside the actual silkscreen image.
That being said, it’s beautiful, it’s gorgeous, it’s in near mint condition for being a 25 year old print that was virtually forgotten about until I saw the value in it and saved it from continuing damage.
Why an art gallery would place a #1 in cellophane for any old so and so to flip around is beyond me,
but it’s a piece of pop culture history, LA history,
and SHAG history.
Only serious offers will be considered.
This print will come to you in the frame seen in the photos simply for protection. It’s not a high
quality frame, but it will do for transportation.
Once it’s yours, frame it however you wish.
NOTE: the matting perfectly hides the scuffs around the boarder of the silkscreen, so consider that when and if you do reframe it.