Virtu Art Gallery has just released a new limited edition print for pre-order. “Spider Dreaming” by Greg ‘Craola’ Simkins is a 10″ x 12.5″, hand embellished canvas edition. Each print is signed and numbered by the artist, and comes with a certificate of authenticity. The gallery will have some closer pics of the print a bit later, and I’ll be sure to add them here.

Get it here: Greg Craola Simkins @ Virtu Art Gallery

Curated by Jan Corey Helford, this past May 15th marked the opening of the “Art From the New World” group exhibition at the Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery. This show will run until August 22nd, but for those of us that aren’t able to see it in person, we now have some images of the art and even behind the scenes photos of the preparation and build up to opening day (see here).

Last year the Bristol City Museum featured the works of Banksy, and during the course of the exhibition over 300,000 visited the museum. Now for the “Art From the New World” show, there have been over 5,000 visitors in the first 6 days of the opening. This is not only a very exciting show, but an important one for the future of the art we love so much. Originally referred to as a scene filled with “illustrators”, this art is now gaining more momentum than ever. Museums are taking notice, and the fan-base is becoming larger than ever. There is some amazing work in this show, from artists such as Kent Williams, David Stoupakis, Joe Sorren, Brandi Milne, Buff Monster, Camille Rose Garcia, Dave Kinsey, Travis Louie, Mercedes Helnwein, Ray Ceasar, Sas Christian, Melissa Forman, Jason Shawn Alexander, Dave Cooper, Liz McGrath, Mike Stilkey, Gary Baseman, Craola, Luke Chueh, Coop, Natalia Fabia, Chris Anthony, AJ Fosik, Joe Ledbetter, Todd Schorr, Van Arno, Martin Wittfooth, Josh Agle, Lola, Sylvia Ji, Marion Peck, Mark Ryden and many more. How is that for a lineup? I really wish this show was going to travel and come to some museums here in the states. Take a look at the preview images here, and then head over for the full preview.

Art From the New World: Here and Here

This past March 13th, the Copro Galley opened the 5th Anniversary Exhibition for Hi Fructose. Along with this amazing group show, Eric Fortune and Michael Page also had solo shows up as well. The group show featured some inspiring work by KMNDZ, Scott Hove, Martin Wittfooth, Lori Earley, Eric Fortune, Craola, Chet Zar, Amy Sol, Kris Kuksi, Jonathan Viner, Chris Mars and many more. The Eric Fortune works are not up on the site as of yet, but the Michael Page solo show is. His latest works have been more abstract, and less figurative than earlier pieces. These paintings still hold the same narrative feel that his older works had, and are even more mysterious than ever. The colors are breathtaking, and I like the idea that he decided to change his work up a bit. Take a look at the preview images from the shows, and then head on over and see all of the works.

Copro Gallery

The artist known as Craola has added an online shop to his homepage. Inside you will find shirts for guys and gals, stickers, posters and prints. One of the newest prints to be added to the shop is “Damsel”. This print is particular is 16″ x 24″ on Elegance Velvet Platinum Edition Fine Art Paper, signed and numbered in an edition of 100 for $125.

Craola Online Shop

The original painting from this print will be in a group show at the Joshua Liner Gallery opening this August 15th. The print is available to purchase now however. It is 18″ x 24″, signed and numbered in an edition of 50 for $150.

It’s an amazing image, I love that Warhol inspired soup can in the middle, Chunky Bunny flavored. I also like that the print is on paper. Canvas prints are fine too, but some images just look striking on nice paper with a frame to finish the whole look.

To purchase, email info@joshualinergallery.com
Joshualinergallery.com

Here is the rundown of the shows that will be opening up this weekend.

Friday:
Grass Hut Corp will be opening “The Squirrels Made Me Do It”, a group show featuring work by Anna Chambers, Joe Ledbetter, Michelle Valigura & Amanda Visell.

T&P Fine Arts is opening the group show “The Kids Are Alright”. This show is curated by Beau Basse and will feature work by Nimit Malavia, Yuta Onoda, Danni Shinya Luo, Jeremy Lynch, Eric Davison and many more.

Ad Hoc Art will be hosting new works from Ekundayo and Joshua Clay in the main room, and TheDirtyFabulous in the project room.

Saturday:
Rivet Art will be showing new works from Annie Owens ans Laurie Lipton.

Gallery 1988 SF will open a dual show of Dan McCarthy and Daniel Danger. There will be some prints released at the reception.

Copro Gallery will have three killer shows opening up. First Hi-Fructose brings us “Overdose” with work from Alex Pardee, Andrew Hem, Bob Dob, Anthony Ausgang, Brandi Milne, Brandt Peters, Brendan Danielsson, Chris Owens, Chris Peters, Chet Zar, Chris Berens, Craola, Dan May, Dan Quintana, Ekundayo, Erik Fortune, Femke Hiemstra, Glenn Barr, Gris Grimly, Jason D’Aquino, Joe Vaux, Josh Keyes, Kathie Olivas, KMNDZ, Kris Kuksi, Kukula, Lola, Luke Chueh, Mars-1, Martin Wittfooth, McBess, Mia, Michael Page, Naoto Hattori, Nathan Spoor, Robert Hardgrave, Scott Musgrove, Shag, Skot Olsen, Thomas Han, Tin, Tom Haubrick, Travis Louie, Viktor Safonkin, Vince Cacciotti, Yoskay Yamamoto, Yosuke Ueno, Yoko D’holbachie and more.
Then there will also be “Nightlight” by Kieth Weesner in gallery 2 and “The Herrings Hairdo” by Femke Hiemstra in gallery 3.

How is that for a group show?

It was just a bit ago that the “Art of Sketch Theatre” opened at the Gnomon Gallery and now the site has brought us another video. This new one is from Greg “Craola” Simkins and is his first video for the site.

Greg is a phenomenal artist, I love watching the character in this one develop out of what looks like nothing more and smudges and highlights. Lets hope that Greg becomes a regular on the site.

Greg “Craola” Simkins on Sketch Theatre

At the opening of Craola’s show at Ffity24SF I talked to Craola a bit about collaborations he would like to be in, artists he would like to show with and so on. Alex Pardee was one of the he mentioned, “it just makes sense” he said and I agree. Well we might not have a collaborative show from the two of these amazing artists for some time, but Zerofriends/Alex Pardee is bringing the fans a limited edition print by Craola. The print is entitled “The Gauntlet”, it is 16″ x 20″ Printed with Archival Inks on Acid Free Velvet Cotton Rag, limited to only 100. And as it says on the site “Each print is hand signed, numbered and loved by Greg Simkins”. The prints from Zerofriends look amazing, and with Craola’s artwork on them this print is surely to sell out very fast, especially since it’s only $125

Head on over and grab one before it’s to late.
The Gauntlet @ Zerofriends.com

Just this past Thursday I headed down to San Francisco to check out the new shows from Craola and Anthony Lister at the Fifty24 Gallery. It was raining a bit but as we pulled up the rain stopped and we got there just before the crowds did. Anthony’s show was in the upstairs gallery, and after taking photos of the show I was able to talk to him about his work at his studio space around the corner. He had some new works on the walls (seen in pic) and was very easy to talk to. You can tell he loves what he does. I met up with him for another pic later on at the show.

Craola’s show “Seeing Things” was in the downstairs area, and got packed super fast. He was also signing books and toys, as well as doing sketches for people. This made it hard at first to see, or even take photos of the show, but it calmed down. The new works were amazing and I was able to talk to Craola for a bit as well. He’s a super nice guy. His attitude honestly makes you love his art even more, not like it needed any help. I got a sketch from him in my little book and walked away happy I made the trip to see these shows.

I did a writeup for the show you can read on SFWeekly.com
And I have the rest of the show pics up on the Creep’s Flickr

Opening up at the Fifty24 Gallery in San Francisco is “Seeing Things” by Greg “Craola” Simkins in the lower level and “Magic Tricks” by Anthony Lister upstairs. The reception is from 7-9pm, but I imagine the place will get pretty packed. It’s not the biggest gallery to begin with. There will also be a print from Craola available at the show. “The Lost Thought” (as seen on the flyer) is 16″ x 20″ giclee on canvas, signed and numbered in an edition of 30.

I’ll be at the show taking pics and doing another writeup for SFWeekly. I’ll pictures of the show and a rundown during the weekend.
Upperplayground.com