Rat Fink by Robert Williams (for Ed “Big Daddy’ Roth)

Robert Williams is the undisputed King of Lowbrow, Pop Surrealism, and a legend of underground comix and fine art. The man who gave Bob his big break was Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, The Godfather of hotrod Kustom Kulture, whose signature character Rat Fink is a globally recognized icon.

Back in 1977, Robert painted this sign for Roth to display at his merchandise booth and his Souther California shop – where he sold decals, apparel, posters, model kits, etc. to the chagrin of freeloaders who frequently requested free stickers and postcards. Roth would simply gesture to the sign with its message,”Hey Pal, Nothin’ Is Free!”

It is oil paint on thick cardboard, measuring 12.5 x 17.75 in. (plus a 13 x 2 x .75 in. wooden handle, to which it is affixed by two staples). It also harkens back to Williams earliest profession: a sign painter.

Roth’s widow gave it to Ray “3D” Zone in 2001, and it passed from Zone to me after Ray’s death in 2007. It was showcased in the exhibition and printed catalog for ¡Oralé! Kings and Queens of Cool, a Lowbrow art exhibition rooted in West Coast pop surrealism, held at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico in 2013 & 2014. It was also displayed at the La Luz de Jesus 25 Exhibition and at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery‘s Lifetime achievement tribute to Robert Williams in 2016.