Once again I was given the opportunity to curate a group show, and am very happy to say that it will be taking place at the Articulated Gallery in San Francisco. This group show is entitled “Under the Gun” and will open this Saturday, June 4th at 8:00pm. The show will feature work from Chet Zar, Dan Harding, Cate Rangel, Jessica Ward, Apricot Mantle, Patrick Deignan, Megan Frauenhoffer (featured), Jon Macnair, Godmachine, Larkin, John Cebollero, and Jessica Stewart (featured). Many of these artists have been featured on the site many times, and a few are recent features and I am very happy to have them in the show. I won’t be able to make the reception night, but I hope everyone enjoys the show, it looks amazing and while your there you can check out the Loved to Death shop. I am told the show will be on the gallery’s webpage this coming Sunday.
Preview: “Faces” by Glenn Barr @ La Luz de Jesus
Opening this Friday night, June 3rd at the La Luz de Jesus gallery is a new solo show and book release signing by Glenn Barr. The show is entitled “Faces”, which is also the name for Glenn’s new book. This new show “explores the images that permeate our collective consciousness and define the iconic”. Glenn used found wood materials instead of canvas, something he would do when he first started painting. This found wood has more personality, and goes along with this theme of creating images that permeate the mind. The book signing starts at 7pm, and the reception goes from 8-11pm. This is such an amazing show. The colors Glenn uses, as well as the mix of his stylized paintings and his more realistic works really help to make this a strong show.
Speaking in Tongues – New Show Curated by Buddy Nestor
Buddy Nestor has outdone himself with his latest group exhibition. A collector, painter and curator, Buddy has a truly influential and versatile presence in this circle of dark arts. This being his second go at curating, Speaking in Tongues, will be an unbelievable event. Opening this Friday night, June 3rd, at Black Vulture Gallery in Philadelphia, Cam Rackam & Genevive Zacconi are scheduled to be painting live surrounded by the artwork of over 60 artists including Jeremy Hush, Paul Romano, JL Schnabel, Heather Gargon, Jason Levesque (Stuntkid), Charlie Immer and Ewelina Ferruso. Don’t miss it!
Kent Williams & Chris Anthony @ Merry Karnowsky Gallery
On May 21st the Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles opened two very exciting solo shows, one by photographer Chris Anthony and the other by Kent Williams. This latest show by Chris Anthony is entitled “A Captured Species” and features 11 new C-prints (Chromogenic Color Prints). The dreamy, sublime feel that Anthony’s photographs are known for continue in this new series. Kent Williams brings 15 new paintings and drawings in a show entitled “Convergence”. I have always been a fan of the brushy, impasto style in his paintings as well as his energetic drawings. Check out the full show over at the galleries site, and for some closer images you can head over to Kent Williams homepage for a gallery of this new work.
For those interested in a print of Kent Williams works, “Blond Natalia in Studio Arrangement” (shown second) is available as a 24″ x 30″ print, signed and numbered in an edition of 10. Available Here
Kris Lewis @ David B Smith Gallery
On Friday, May 20th, the David B Smith Gallery in Denver, Colorado opened the latest solo show by Kris Lewis. This new show features 12 new paintings by this contemporary master. Lewis has a style of paintings that is very reminiscent of Mannerist painters from the late 1500′s. While those painters chose to distort and manipulate the figures and the scenes they occupied to a great extent, Lewis’ figures and paintings contain subtle distortions, so that the viewer would be drawn in not only by the emotion but by the feeling of something slightly odd about the works. He achieves this with perfect consistency, and never ceases to amaze with every new painting released. Take a look at the preview images here, and then over to the galleries homepage for the full show.
Kris Lewis @ David B Smith Gallery
Preview: Sarah Folkman, Krista Huot and Isabel Samaras @ Corey Helford Gallery
Opening tomorrow night, May 21st at the Corey Helford Gallery, is a new how with three outstanding female artists: Sarah Folkman, Krista Huot and Isabel Samaras. All three of these artists. The show opens at 7pm, and for those that make it there early the gallery is giving away free mini prints throughout the night, all of which are limited to 150. This will be the third time that Sarah Folkman and Krista Huot show at the gallery. Isable Samaras will be bringing her amazing oil pianting skills as well with her new body of work “Heavy Gretel”, which has to be one of the best names for a show I have heard yet. From the preview images it looks like Krista will be exhibiting some of her biggest paintings yet. This looks to be a very exciting show, so if your in the area be sure to stop by or keep your eye on the website for the full show release.
“One and the Many” by Jenny Morgan @ Like the Spice
Just this past Friday, May 13th, the Like the Spice Gallery in Brooklyn, NY opened a new solo show by Jenny Morgan entitled “One and the Many”. This is the artists third solo show at this gallery. Along with the 10 original works that are on view, there are also 2 different silkscreen prints available (shown last). The prints are both 17″ x 17″ on Arches 500 gsm paper, each print is individually colored in unique editions 1 of 50. This is an outstanding show, and one that I am sure as always is more impressive when seen in person. The exhibition will be up until June 19th so if your in the area make sure to stop by. The Milk Made blog has some very nice, larger photos of some of the work in the show.
“Mysterious Strangers” by Derek Albeck @ POVevolving Gallery
This past week, Friday the 13th to be exact, the POVevolving Gallery in Los Angeles opened a new solo show by Derek Albeck. Entitled “Mysterious Strangers”, these new realistic graphite drawings continue his recent works which “depict the disparate, frenzied moments that are usually the domain of the casual snapshot. What makes his use of these images noteworthy, however, is the carefully selected grouping of images that, as a whole, mimic a loose narrative rooted in his own personal history and memories.” The show is now online to view, and the works look amazing. Derek is truly a master when it comes to drawing, and shows that a medium that gets less attention than painting can be very dynamic. Also om the website in an interview with Derek, so while your there to check out the art make sure to take a look at the interview as well.
Derek Albeck @ POVevolving Gallery
Review: Paper View: A Zerofriends Show @ The Cotton Candy Machine
On May 6th, The Cotton Candy Machine, Tara McPherson’s new gallery, opened a group show entitled Paper View: A Zerofriends Show. The show features new work, prints, apparel, books, and more by Alex Pardee and Zerofriends. Kristen Wyman headed out to the show was nice enough to write a review for the Creep. All images from the Cotton Candy Machine and Sara Antoinette Martin.
The “Paper View” show featuring the creative collective Zerofriends at Cotton Candy Machine boutique and gallery on Friday night was a stunning representation of the new wave of Do-It-Yourself artists who strive to make fine art more accessible to their fans. Founded by well-known artist Tara McPherson in Williamsburg just last month, the Cotton Candy Machine hosts a different show every month and focuses on originals and prints for $500 or less.
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Preview: Dan Harding, Patrick Deignan & Larkin @ Congregation Gallery
For all of those lucky art fans in Los Angeles, the Congregation Gallery will be opening three must-see solo exhibitions tonight, May 14th at 9pm. Dan Harding will have new works with his show “Splinters”, Patrick “Star 27″ Deignan will have “Bad Obsession”, and finally “Rhinestone Deities” from Washington artist Larkin. With this new series of works, Larkin will summon “the creatures of land, air, and imagination to reinvent a polytheistic court of guardians and daemons. Utilizing dead religions as a template, He populates his new Otherworld with anthropomorphic deities, each with its own purpose and personality. Animal, human and teratogenic smithereens combine to form divine chimaeras and immortal misfits.” Dan Harding will once again be dipping into your worst nightmares, and putting the imagery few can imagine onto canvas with the skilled hands of a master. Patrick Deignan set out to tell a “brief narrative of coveted fame and the attempt to find fulfillment in things outside oneself. The pieces focus on themes of addiction, lust, and the loss of the spirit. The figure is portrayed in vibrant colors as if attracted to neon lights just off the canvas, like a moth to flame.”
This is going to an exciting night with some amazing artwork on view. Here are a few preview images, and keep your eyes on the galleries web page for the full show.
Congregation Gallery
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Bye Bye Kitty!!! Between Heaven and Hell in Contemporary Japanese Art
Motohiko Odani's 'Malformed Noh Mask Series: San Yujo'
Earlier this year Ms. Kristen Sollee of the Japan Society invited me to take a peek at the institution’s new exhibition of contemporary Japanese art, Bye Bye Kitty!!! She figured I might take a liking to the grotesque elements in the show; she had gotten a strong impression of my interests when she viewed the Anagnorisis group exhibition Another Roadside Attraction this past fall, 2010. I cannot express how right she was and how excited I am about Bye Bye Kitty!!! It is one of the best group exhibitions I’ve seen in a very long time. Almost every work on view is titillating, obsessively and expertly crafted, intelligently subversive, thought provoking and strange. (How’s that for an overly long list of descriptive terms?!) The artwork in this exhibition messed with my head in all the right ways.
Bye Bye Kitty!!! does just as its title suggests: it is an exploration of contemporary Japanese art that purposely excludes manga and anime, which has invaded our western pop culture and has obscured what other artworks and art styles are prevalent in Japanese society. In short, we’ve been missing out.
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Preview: “Literal eyes” group show @ London Miles Gallery
Opening tonight, May 12th at the London Miles Gallery is a group exhibition with 30 artists creating art inspired by their favorite books. This type of group theme show has popped up a few times this past year, and as far as I’m concerned that’s a good thing. It could be another group show based on movies, or 80′s nostalgia. Book always win, and this list of artists show that. Tom Bagshaw, Linnea Strid, Nom Kinnear King, Sergio Mora, Tahnee Lonsdale, Zach Cohen, Camilla D’Errico, Craww, and Carles Gomila are just a few of the artists that created something for this show. Keep your eye on the galleries page for the full show.
