In 1999, Tom Thewes, ©POP Owner/CEO, fiercely believed in the fundamentally powerful relevance of this group of artists who used the visual vocabulary of popular culture (cartoons, rock posters, advertising and graffiti) to communicate and express themselves in a way that broke through the worn ivory tower elitism of the then pervasive over-intellectualized art institutions. So he began to implement his grand vision for ©POP as the leading proponent of these brave underground art rebels by renovating a three story former trophy shop, bar, post office and den of iniquity in Detroit's Mid-town Cultural Center, into a world-class exhibition space and multi-discipline focal point for this pop-culture revolution. The newly improved cultural showcase opened to much fanfare and excited expectation with a "Grand Re-Opening" exhibition entitled, "© Stands For..." which included all of the ©POP regulars plus names like Mark Ryden, H.R. Giger, Robert Williams, Eric White, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Isabel Samaras and many more.
Also, as an urban pioneer during a time when Detroit remained a post-industrial wasteland and the last great American city to experience its renaissance, the gallery cemented the foundation for a cultural domino effect which developed an impressive "gallery row" on the south end of the Detroit’s Cultural Center, that still continues to grow with more galleries and cultural venues every year.
Setting the bar high led to more than 20 exhibits a year for the two-floor gallery with such names as Shag, Shephard Fairey, Ron English, Bask, Yumiko Kawikawa, Tristan Eaton, Iggy Pop and some of the most legendary Art openings in the city's history with exhibits like Carnivora, ©POPportunity and BombPop which gathered together some of the world’s now most renowned graffiti heavy-hitters like SCRIBE, QUISP, DENZ, MEAR, DAIM, SCOPE, SCOUT, Jeff Soto, CYCLE, Tes1, BASK, Dr. Revolt, MEWS, QUISP, Andrew Spear, SILOUETTE, MAC and so many more, which helped build ©POP's mythic status, as patrons came from every continent (except Antarctica) to visit this iconic space.
Now ©POP moves on to a greater level of influence as it seeks to build partnerships with world-class events in order to promote it’s artists though venues around the globe and across the internet. With this new mission firmly in place ©POP looks forward to providing exciting announcements in the very near future. Be sure to check back with us so you don't miss anything!