Michael Pellew's drawings are dreamed up vignettes that US Weekly wishes they could turn to reality - celebrities of the artist's own preference staged together in whichever way he deems necessary. What’s most remarkable about Michael’s Celebrity Sightings Series of birthday cards is his imagination which at once seems both random and completely strategic. The celebrities he chooses to draw come from just about everywhere – Elliot Spitzer, Miley Cyrus, and Gene Simmons all stand together in front of an oversized cupcake to wish you a Happy Birthday. 

The humor comes, of course, from the irony that all of these celebrities, dead and alive, politicians and pop stars, have united as one for your honor. It's an anachronistic collage of "what if" moments, as the artist himself describes it. However, question the context and Pellew is ready to spit out details of his subject's careers. The pop culture solon's Jackson Family series, for instance, features cards that are each inspired by pivotal points in the family's history: Michael recalls exact concert tour outfits, hair do's, and dates anywhere from the Triumph Tour (note the glittery outfits) to a scene of Michael Jackson out of 2008. 

Michael's acutely humorous take on our society's reveling of pop culture was aptly noticed at the LAND studio, where Michael produces his art. The League Treatment Center's art program, LAND (League Artists Natural Design), is a specialized facility in Dumbo that hosts five-day-a-week studio sessions for exceptional artists with disabilities, and is a creative environment that has led Michael to share his work and develop as an artist. The organization links artists with curators, writers, organizations and collectors, but Michael's popularity has already got him working overtime to keep up with the requests for his work both for Opening Ceremony and for his fans elsewhere. 

What's unique about Michael's love of celebrity and pop culture is that some of his subjects have become some of his greatest encouragers. Take for instance his recent fans at MoMA, and a specialty card being hand crafted for Bono. On a recent visit to OC, the multi talented Mos Def scooped up a variety of Michael's birthday cards, citing the ones featuring Michael Jackson to be his favorite. 

Michael's cards have become one of the most anticipated new arrivals at Opening Ceremony New York, and we were lucky enough to have Michael stop by to drop them off himself and share some of his favorite new pieces. Due to their delicate, one of a kind issue, Michael Pellew's cards are only available through Opening Ceremony New York, so you'll have to stop by and check them out in person!