'Poker Faces: The Nuts!' by Walter Gabrielson, 2005
From the pop artist and printmaker's series celebrating the worldwide phenomenon of "Texas Hold 'Em".
36 x 24 Inches
91.4 x 61 Centimeters
Original 6-colour, hand-separated lithograph on 80 lb Domtar Solutions smooth archival matte fine art paper.
The full sheet, printed to the edges - print and publishing details bottom right.
Open Edition (Sold Out).
Copyright by the artist; printed by Las Vegas Color Graphics.
Published by Above the Line LLC x Cerebral Brinksmen LLC, Nevada, 2005.
Signed and dated "© 2005 Gabrielson" in the plate, bottom left.
*Note: Very good original condition - some may have minor edge-wear from age/handling.
ABOUT THE ART
Walter Gabrielson (1935–2008) 'Poker Faces' series playfully reimagines classic playing-card iconography through bold color, exaggerated character design, and a sly sense of humor. Works such as 'River Rat' and 'The Nuts!' take familiar card symbols—aces, kings, suits—and reinterpret them with expressive personalities and narrative flair. Rather than the stoic imagery traditionally found in decks, Gabrielson’s characters come alive with attitude, irony, and a whimsical storytelling quality. Each piece visually riffs on poker terminology, merging wordplay with dynamic illustration to create art that appeals equally to collectors, card players, and lovers of graphic design.
The large-scale lithographs are produced with meticulous craftsmanship, printed in rich, saturated tones and crisp lines that echo the refined techniques of vintage commercial illustration. Their framing as oversized playing cards creates immediate visual impact, while the humorous details invite closer inspection. As a series, 'Poker Faces' embodies Gabrielson’s gift for blending fine-art printmaking with pop-culture themes, resulting in work that is both accessible and artistically sophisticated.
ARTIST BIO
Walter Gabrielson (1935–2008) was an American painter, printmaker, and illustrator known for his vibrant approach to narrative imagery and his ability to fuse wit with fine-art technique. Educated at the University of Southern California and later a professor at Pepperdine University, Gabrielson cultivated a career that bridged studio art, graphic design, and teaching. His work reflects a deep engagement with classic American illustration, comic sensibilities, and a mastery of traditional printmaking methods, most notably multi-color hand-separated lithography.
Throughout his career, Gabrielson exhibited widely and was celebrated for his lively visual language, which combined precision draftsmanship with playful storytelling. His prints and paintings often portrayed anthropomorphic characters, humorous cultural references, and imaginative reinterpretations of familiar symbols—qualities that earned him a dedicated following among collectors. The 'Poker Faces' series, created in the mid-2000s, stands as a prime example of his ability to merge humor, craftsmanship, and popular iconography into enduring works of contemporary American art.