Few worlds are as magnificent, creepy, beautiful, and story-driven as those created by Tim Burton. A man whose mind is a place of wonder and possibility, it’s extraordinary to see the things he has given to the world. American filmmaker, artist, writer, director, and father of two, Burton’s life is one of imagination. Beginning at a very young age, Burton would create fanciful drawings in his hometown of Burbank, California. Born to Jean and Bill Burton, Burton made short films using stop motion animation on 8 mm film as a child, including The Island of Doctor Agor that he made when he was 13 years old.
He was a typical teenager, not particularly fascinated with school—not nearly as much as he loved painting, watching movies, and drawing, but after graduating Burbank High, he attended Cal Arts where his love of film and art found its footing.
Inspired by Dr. Seuss and Ronald Dahl, his exhibition years ago at the LA County of Museum of Art (LACMA) exhibited his early years, his sculptures, and we got a glimpse into how fanciful and dark his work is, but also how impactful his work has been.
He made short films, sketches that would later become books as his success became inevitable, and the world became familiar with his brilliant creations when Beetlejuice was released. Lost Vegas: Tim Burton at The Neon Museum, presented by the Engelstad Foundation showcases life sized figures from some of Burton’s most beloved films such as Mars Attacks, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and more.
Now through February 2020.
Photo by Denise Truscello/WireImage
Text below courtesy of The Vox Agency
Lost Vegas: Tim Burton @ The Neon Museum comprises sculptural and digital installations celebrating Burton’s links to Las Vegas and its historical neon heritage. These artworks, many of which are site-specific creations, will be displayed in the Neon Boneyard and incorporated into Brilliant!, the museum’s permanent projection mapping North Gallery installation. Works play with the museum’s landmark sign collection, which was prominently featured in Burton’s 1996 film Mars Attacks! This irreverent homage to the sci-fi B-movies of the 1950s and 1960s and the disaster films of the 1970s unleashed gleefully destructive alien invaders upon gamblers, casino workers and Tom Jones. The presentation of Burton’s art in Las Vegas represents a unique experience where the host institution also serves as creative inspiration. The museum’s distinctive campus will be transformed through the artist’s singular vision for this original exhibition of new work as well as previously exhibited pieces.
Tim Burton is widely regarded as one of cinema’s most imaginative and visual filmmakers. He has achieved both critical and financial success in the live-action and animation genres. Burton’s accomplishments in filmmaking are a consequence of his artistic eye. Long before becoming a director, he expressed himself through drawing and painting, which also became an integral part of his creative process. Burton’s past exhibitions have drawn millions of patrons around the world in cities such as Melbourne, Los Angeles, Paris, Prague, Tokyo, São Paulo and Mexico City. His exhibition at MoMA in New York City drew more than 800,000 visitors, making it the third most attended exhibition ever.
The Neon Museum | 700 Las Vegas Boulevard North | Las Vegas, NV 89101
Advance reservations are recommended; general admission to the Neon Museum Boneyard is $30 and admission to Brilliant! is $24.
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Founded in 1996, The Neon Museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment. It has been ranked No. 1 in Las Vegas Weekly’s list of “Twenty Greatest Attractions in Las Vegas History,” one of “Sin City’s Best Retro Sites” by MSN, “No. 1 Las Vegas Museum Sure to Entertain and Educate” by USA Today’s 10best.com, “One of the Top 10 Coolest Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do” by Forbes.com, one of the “Top 10 Historic Spots in Las Vegas” by Vegas.com; one of “15 Most Fascinating Museums in the U.S.” by VacationIdea.com; and earns a consistent 4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor.
On its 2.27-acre campus, The Neon Museum houses an outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard (“boneyard” is traditionally the name for an area where items no longer in use are stored); the North Gallery, home to the immersive audiovisual spectacle “Brilliant!” which uses technology advances to re-illuminate more than 40 non-operational signs; the new Boulevard Gallery outdoor exhibit and event space; and its visitors’ center, housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby. The museum collection also includes nine restored signs installed as public art throughout downtown Las Vegas. Public education, outreach, research, archival preservation and a grant-funded neon sign survey represent a selection of the museum’s ongoing projects. The museum is located at 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North in Las Vegas. For tour schedules and pricing information, visit neonmuseum.org
