‘Alex Ross: Heroes & Villains’ exhibition opens this summer at the Bess Bower Dunn Museum
The art of Alex Ross is instantly recognizable. Known for his hyperrealistic painting style of classic comic book characters, Ross has transformed the comic world into fine art. Using gouache paints, Ross brings heroes and villains from the Marvel and DC universes to life with striking realism. Now, a new art exhibit showcasing the work of the world-renowned comic book artist will open this summer. “Alex Ross: Heroes & Villains” will be the inaugural exhibition to be held in the newly expanded 3,000-square-foot East gallery space of the Dunn Museum, and will be on view from June 29 through Feb. 16, 2026.
Ross has created three new portraits that will be unveiled at the opening of the exhibition and placed exclusively on display for the entirety of the exhibition. The Dunn Museum will host a ticketed preview event, A Night with Alex Ross, on Saturday, June 28. Tickets are available at LCFPD.org/AlexRoss.
“I am thrilled to join with the Dunn Museum again for this new exhibit,” Alex Ross said. “To see so many of my original paintings on display all in one place is very special. It gives me a new perspective on the breadth of my work and I hope visitors enjoy the experience.”
“Alex Ross: Heroes & Villains” will showcase the captivating, vibrant, and powerful imagery that Ross is known for, all in one spectacular display. The gallery will be the first to host the largest arrangement of Alex Ross art for public viewing, featuring over 100 pieces of art including individual full-size portraits of iconic superheroes and villains and three life-size murals that capture each character’s attitude, naturally influencing their poses. The massive compilation of Ross’ work spans over two decades of his career.
“This will be the first time Alex’s renditions of the DC heroes and villains will be shown together with the Marvel heroes and villains in a formal exhibition and displayed in such a striking way,” said Sal Abbinanti, Ross’ art rep. “This will be a feast for the eyes for fans of art, fans of superheroes, and fans of Alex.”
The exhibit is a celebration of Ross’ career as an artist and his passion for superheroes and villains and will introduce a new generation to his incredible art. Attendees of all ages will be in awe as they stand side by side with many of their favorite pop culture characters.
“Alex Ross has had a storied career, from his artistic beginnings as a child, to his early career in advertising, and his beloved work in comics and we are honored to host this comprehensive exhibit,” Exhibition and Collections Manager Steve Furnett said.
“Alex Ross: Heroes & Villains” is the second Alex Ross exhibit to be hosted at the Dunn Museum. The first, “Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross,” was held in 2019. Access to the exhibit will require an additional admission fee. Tickets will be available at the door. All proceeds support Every Acre Strong: The Community Campaign for Lake County Forest Preserves, led by the Preservation Foundation, the Forest Preserves’ 501(c)3 charitable partner.
The Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County is at 1899 West Winchester Road, Libertyville. Plan your visit at LCFPD.org/planyourvisit.
About Alex Ross
Born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Lubbock, Texas, Ross made his artistic debut at 3 when, according to his mother, he grabbed a piece of paper and drew the contents of a television commercial he’d seen moments before. By age 13 he was scripting and drawing original comic books. Ten years later he was hired by Marvel Comics to illustrate Marvel’s central characters in the comic book event “Marvels” (1994).
Having established himself creatively and financially with superhero projects, Ross turned to the real world with “Uncle Sam,” a 96-page story that took a hard look at the dark side of American history. Like “Marvels,” the individual issues of “Uncle Sam” were collected into a single volume — first in hardcover, then in paperback — and remain in print today. Ross would eventually go on to win the Comic Buyer’s Guide Award for Favorite Painter. He won so many times that the award was officially retired.
Ross' work has celebrated the 60th anniversaries of Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman with fully painted, tabloid-sized books, depicting each of these characters using their powers to inspire humanity as well as help them.
In recent years, Ross has applied his artistic skills to outside projects with comic book roots, including a limited-edition promotional poster for the Academy Awards. In 2015, Ross was chosen by Apple Corps LTD to be commissioned as the first artist in over 30 years to paint the Fab Four. Driven by the Beatles legendary music and inspired by the generation’s new trends in art, “Yellow Submarine” is a classic of animated cinema. Alex has often been referred to as “the Norman Rockwell of comics,” yet his “Yellow Submarine” piece reveals the similarly powerful influence of master surrealist Salvador Dalí, whom Alex has also recognized as a guiding influence on his style. Learn more at Alex Ross Art: alexrossart.com.
About the Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County
The nationally accredited Dunn Museum — a distinction held by only 3% of American museums — cares for a treasure trove of history about Lake County. Natural and cultural history is brought to life through a balance of interactive exhibitions, authentic artifacts, reproductions and audiovisual displays. Learn more at DunnMuseum.org