A Passion for Pop Art

The strokes of a paintbrush on a canvas can create profound images, and Upper Makefield resident and pop artist Perry Milou has the magical talent of painting exhilarating pieces. Whether you’re new to the art world or a collector, you can’t help but be enthralled by the bright colors, dazzling displays, and creative energy felt in his Lambertville, New Jersey, gallery. The walls are covered with canvases and mixed media pieces; it’s hard to believe one artist could produce so many stunning works.

Milou’s family is from South Philadelphia originally, and he grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs. Creativity ran in his family; his mother was a ballet dancer, and his father was a restaurateur in Center City. 

Because he was always drawing, his mother signed him up for art lessons at 5 years old, and it was immediately evident he had a gift. In high school, Milou spent most of his days in the art room. He then attended the University of Arizona for fine arts, focusing on illustration and graphics, but he was having trouble staying within one niche.

“The dean changed one of the majors of the school because of me, to an open studio major, so I could take whatever classes I wanted to, like watercolor, printmaking, oil painting,” Milou says. “That’s why my art is very diverse in terms of technique and different styles, because I learned a lot of different stuff.”

Drawing Attention

After graduating from college, Milou moved back to his parents’ house in 1990 and started to make paintings in what he calls the “fine pop” genre, because it’s a mix of fine art and pop art. Like most artists, he also worked in the hospitality industry and taught art classes to support his dream until 1998, when he made the decision to pursue art full-time.

Around that same time, he displayed his works along the fence in Rittenhouse Square and became known for his paintings of Philadelphia sports heroes, city landmarks, and iconic celebrities. He sold so many pieces off the street that he opened various art galleries over the next few years. After a short move to Miami in 2009, Milou settled in New Jersey when he got married and had a baby, and he continued his artistic ventures.

His creative process starts by sketching with paint right onto the canvas. Depending on the content or style of the design, one piece can take a couple of days or weeks, while simpler ones take a few hours.

“I’m like a kid in a candy shop; it’s not even work for me,” Milou says. “I’m inspired by practically everything. I don’t have any favorite pieces. To me the relationship or the love of the piece is when you’re creating it: The paint is wet, the energy is flowing from my body, my mind, my heart onto the canvas. And when the painting is done, I release it into the world.”

Milou says art can be a taught technique, but for him, he doesn’t have to force it because it comes naturally. His pop art includes political art, Americana art, and portraiture, to name a few. He has delved into the mediums of mixed media, gold leaf, spin art, and abstract.

“Most artists will focus on one thing, but I am always exploring new mediums, subject matters, and ways to paint,” he says. “I think a strength of mine is that I can appeal to the masses of people.”

The Art of the Deal

Milou says the business and promotional end of selling art is just as important as making art. He has many collectors who are repeat buyers, and he receives numerous commission requests.

“I’ve always had a good left side of my brain compared to a lot of artists who just have the creative right side,” he says. “I like the business side of it. I think artists sell more art when people get to meet the artist. I also love gorilla marketing, where I hang a show at a pizza place or a car wash—that’s how people find me. If you’re going to make it, you must be willing to put it out there.”

In addition to selling his original works at his gallery, social media has been a game changer to share his talent with the world. One of his most notable successes was when he was named the official portrait artist for Pope Francis’ visit to America. His painting was licensed to The World Meeting of Families and the archdiocese for retail merchandise.

He says commercialization of his art through printing has been successful, and it keeps growing.

“I started printing 25 years ago,” he says. “As soon as I finish a painting, I get it high-resolution scanned for retail merchandising. It allows someone who can’t afford an original painting to buy a reproduction. I probably have 600 paintings in my shop for you to buy as a print.”

In 2015, when Milou and his wife had their second child, they moved to Washington Crossing. In 2023, he opened his most recent gallery and workspace, Milou Gallery. “I just love Washington Crossing,” he says. “It’s a beautiful area. We live right by the park and the bridge, and I have painted the bridge twice. When I have events at my gallery, people from Upper Makefield Township and surrounding areas come, so I’m developing a whole new clientele base, which is great.”

Spreading Love

Anchored by Valentine’s Day, February is the month of love, and Milou will be making spin-art hearts to sell as gifts for the holiday. However, he has been drawing heart characters for 15 years under the brand Spread Your Love.

“The heart is such a universal shape,” he says. “It’s about togetherness and understanding, surrender and forgiveness. No two drawings are the same. They represent human souls.”

His series of hearts will soon be featured in a children’s book. It also inspired Milou’s daughter to share the concept on her school’s mission trip to Malawi last year. This June, father and daughter, along with classmates and teachers, will return to the 55,000-family refugee camp to work on a huge mural, set up an art studio, and create merchandise, including hearts on wood to help raise funds.

Milou is always working on new projects, such as the heart book. He’s also helped develop a docuseries based on a painting he made that features cheesesteak shops and hopes to do a series of Upper Makefield Township landscapes in the future.

“I like to live in the unknown, because that’s what keeps you present and happy, and I’m always creating projects,” he says. “When a project turns into something successful or I sell a painting, it’s a high. I’m a very blessed guy. I’m all smiles.”

Dari Kotzker resides in Bucks County with her husband and four kids. She has worked as a reporter in television news and print media since 2001.

Photograph by Juan Vidal Photography