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From New York, Milwaukee, Washington and across the pond to London, Robert Melee’s work has been recognized for its spiritedly colorful style.

Often equated to Andy Warhol and John Waters’ style, Melee launches Langford Street pop up gallery on the Asbury Park Boardwalk Friday.

The temporary studio in the Fifth Avenue Pavilion will offer unique portraits to visitors that aims to capture the spirit of the unique city along the sea.

Since the beginning of his career, with the 1990 17th Street window installation – Robert Melee’s Mommy, he has sought to transform art’s historical tradition in the psychological realm of the suburban home. The result is a Susan Sontag defined version of camp: good taste of bad taste.

Not only will Melee’s work be on display but visitors can opt for a photograph taken by the artist against a backdrop of sets he’s created by hand.

A 1990 School of Visual Arts graduate, Melee’s work has appeared in the MOMA [NYC], The Corcoran Museum [Washington, D.C.] and The Milwaukee Art Museum, as well as galleries across the nation an beyond. He’s been the subject of features in The New Yorker, SPIN, The New York Times and countless others, according to a Tuesday afternoon announcement.

Melee, who has a long standing relationship with Asbury Park, recently relocated to the city from New York.

His most recent solo exhibit, Semi-Quasi-Bower Recreational, is now traveling  the nation.

Langford Street Studio’s entrance is located on the boardwalk in the High Voltage/Parlor Gallery pop-up/ and “Here Today Gone Tomorrow” vintage furniture showroom [shown at right]. Melee’s popup will open 10 a.m. daily and will run into September.

[Feature photo courtesy of Melee’s Facebook page]

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