Ringo Starr Debuts First-Ever Exhibit of Original Paintings thru Oct. 15

Ringo Starr - photo by Scott Robert Ritchie

By Debbie Hall

Photography by Isabel M. Castro

Ringo Starr’s STARR ART exhibition will be showing at Animazing Art Gallery in the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Palazzo Las Vegas through October 15. This is his first show since 2019 and his first to feature his original paintings for exhibition and sale, with all artist proceeds going to the Lotus Foundation. 

The show, titled Starr Art, marks the first time Starr has assembled a gallery of his own works. Though he has shared select pieces of his digital art in the past, this new collection highlights paintings created by Starr himself—bold, colorful, and infused with the same joy that has defined his decades-long career.

“This is the first time I’m seeing all my paintings together in one place,” Starr said ahead of the opening. “I’ve been painting for years, but to have a whole show of my original work—it’s a very special moment for me.”

Over the years, Starr has experimented with photography, digital design, and mixed-media artwork. Painting, however, has become an increasingly important outlet for him.

“Art has always been another way for me to express myself. It’s very different from writing a song or playing a concert. When I paint, it’s about color, energy, and fun. There’s no wrong way to do it,” said Ringo.

The pieces on display are vibrant and playful, often featuring abstract shapes and bursts of color that mirror Starr’s optimistic outlook on life. Many works reflect themes of peace and love—a message he has championed for decades.

Ringo began painting using acrylics and oils, creating paintings for many years before he decided to start composing art on his computer in the late 1990s.  Since his first exhibition of his paintings in 2005, which he titled "My Faces," Ringo's artwork has continued to evolve, seeing him experiment with different mediums and techniques.  This latest collection features his Spin Art. 

"I loved Spin Art the first time I saw it," Ringo recalled. "I saw a video of some kids doing it, and I thought I'm going to try that. I started with a small canvas and now I'm working on huge ones. You know it is always a surprise what you end up with, and of course, I love that part of it -one of the great surprises has been that I started putting canvases around the room to capture the overflow and whatever paint the spinning threw off, and those became their own art.

“I got the canvas and paint, and we ended up in the spin-off, starting with a little motor. Then we got another motor, and then we got a real motor that spins it around. The canvases get bigger and bigger. I'm still having fun with this, with the painting.”

As for painting in oils, “I had one lesson in oi,l and I did this painting with a well-known painter who was teaching me about painting in oil.  I have them on the wall in London.  But, no, I'm really not into oil. You've got a lot of waiting to do,” explained Ringo.

Every painting in the Starr Art exhibition is for sale, with 100% of the artist’s proceeds benefiting the Lotus Foundation, the charity Starr and his wife Barbara Bach founded in 1998. The foundation supports a wide range of causes, including substance abuse programs, social welfare initiatives, animal welfare, and global health and education projects.

“I want the art to do some good,” Starr said. “That’s what the Lotus Foundation is all about—helping people in different ways. If someone connects with a painting and wants to bring it home, that purchase will also help others. That’s a beautiful thing.”

The new exhibition is Starr’s first art show since 2022, making this debut of his original paintings an especially meaningful milestone. Visitors will see the work of a world-renowned musician, as well as the creativity of an artist who continues to explore new avenues of expression.

“Painting, like music, has always brought me joy,” Starr said. “I hope people who come to the show feel that same joy.”

The Starr Art exhibition is open to the public at Grand Canal Shoppes at The Palazzo Las Vegas, 3377 Las Vegas Boulevard S., Suite 2950, through Oct. 15. All works are available for purchase, with proceeds going directly to the Lotus Foundation. For more info, visit animazing.com.