Gary Taxali was born in Chandigarh, India November 5, 1968. His family moved to Toronto, Canada when he was a year old; he lived there until he graduated from the Ontario College of Art in 1991. After a crazy year of living in New York City in 1992, he returned to Toronto and via numerous commercial illustration and advertising gigs, began to infiltrate the North American sensibility.
Gary's illustrations have appeared in almost every major magazine including Newsweek, T.V. Guide, and Penthouse. Taxali's advertising contributions have been a Levi's Jeans billboard and an animated commerical for Coca-Cola. He has won numerous awards from prestigious organizations and publications and has won the Silver Medal in 2001 from the Society of Illustrators (New York) and a Gold Medal in 2000 from the Society of American Illustrators (Los Angeles).
Taxali's "fictional packaging" employs his simple, playful and expressive imagery. Much of his work is on antiquated textbooks which have an aged surface Gary thinks "are just screaming to be drawn on!" Some characters make appearances in more than one painting which is an example of Taxali's notion of "branding" where an image becomes so accessible that they take on religious iconography status.
Gary's major influences are the movie Showgirls, fanatical religious groups, packaging and Bombay Sapphire gin. He is currently working on two children's books and the cover art for Sylvain Sylvain's tribute album to Johnny Thunders.

"Yoy"

34x28"

"Speed"

36x28"

 

"Toy Monkey"

34x28"
SOLD

"Toy Peanut"

34x28"

"Whistle Yo-Yo"

36x28"

"America Lucky Service"

34x28"