Popeye the Art Icon

Martin Wong's paintings of the cartoon character will be on view in New York.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:51pm

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An extreme close-up of shimmering, textured sequins in high-contrast studio lighting, conveying a sense of luxury and glamour without depicting any specific objects or people.The vibrant textures and lighting of this abstract macro photograph evoke the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, hinting at the creative energy behind Martin Wong's Popeye paintings.NYC Today

The painter Martin Wong, who died in 1999, created variations on the Popeye character throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Some of these works, along with other pieces by Wong, will be featured in an exhibition opening April 18 at PPOW gallery in downtown Manhattan.

Why it matters

Wong's Popeye paintings often featured the character in a queer-coded way, reflecting the artist's fascination with elevating ostensibly low-brow culture. The exhibition will showcase Wong's unique artistic vision and his lasting impact on the art world.

The details

The show will include small paintings depicting Popeye as a tattoo, as well as larger, motorized plywood cutouts of the character covered in Wong's signature brick motif. The works illustrate Wong's intention to give the cartoon figure a sense of movement and high-art status.

  • The 'Martin Wong: Popeye' exhibition will be on view from April 18 to May 30, 2026.

The players

Martin Wong

A painter who died in 1999 and was known for creating variations on the Popeye character throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

PPOW

The gallery in downtown Manhattan that is hosting the 'Martin Wong: Popeye' exhibition.

Isaac Alpert

The director of estates at PPOW gallery, who discusses the significance of Wong's Popeye paintings.

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What they’re saying

“Popeye the Sailor Man, the pugnacious cartoon figure popularized in the 1930s, is canonically heterosexual, but fans often interpret him as queer-coded.”

— Isaac Alpert, Director of Estates, PPOW Gallery

“These works are 'a bittersweet reminder that, had we not lost him before his time to H.I.V., Lord knows what he could have gone on to accomplish.'”

— Isaac Alpert, Director of Estates, PPOW Gallery

The takeaway

Martin Wong's Popeye paintings offer a unique perspective on a classic cartoon character, elevating low-brow culture to a place of high artistic status and reflecting the artist's own fascination with queer-coded interpretations of the iconic figure.