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

Last week, the “Lush Life 2″ group invitational opened at Roq La Rue in Seattle. The shows features new works by Joe Sorren, Chris Berens, Marion Peck, Kris Kuksi, Travis Louie, Brian Despain, John Brophy, Martin Wittfooth, Ryan Heshka, Michael Brown, Charlie Immer, Mandy Greer, Gail Potocki, Laurie Hogin, Boomer, Madeline Von Foerster, Ryan Heshka and more. How is that for a line-up? With so much amazing work in one gallery it makes me wish Seattle was just a little closer. The show isn’t fully online yet for those of us that weren’t able to make the reception, but there is a web preview you can check out. So far from the preview, all of the works are very strong, but I am particularly taken with Travis Louie’s “The Ghost Of Laura From The Reeds”. His paintings are insane in person, the level of detail is very impressive to say the least. I also like that he adds stories to each of his characters. I often did this with my mothers Cabinet photo and tintype collection, but my stories were not as entertaining as the ones Travis comes up with.

I really liked that a good majority of the artists in this show, are either inspired by classical themes, or paint in the style of classical masters. This is seen with the work of Madeline Von Foerster, Andrew Arconti and the “Lady Clown” from Marion Peck. That painting is so perfect, the color palette, the inspiration from Francisco Goya’s “La maja desnuda“, and the expression that clown face has. I really hope this is turned into a print soon.

Check out the preview here: Lush Life 2 @ Roq La Rue

Joe Sorren is currently having a Holiday Art Sale. All of the limited edition prints that can be found in his online shop are 30% off. Most of the prints range from $200-400, so an extra discount really helps make some of these editions hard to pass up. Seen below is “Portrait of Princess Elizabeth I”, which is 24″ x 24″ signed and numbered in an edition of 50.

Get em here: Joe Sorren Online Store

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

Friday:
Swarm Gallery will host an exhibition of new works by Josh Keyes.

Perihilion Arts will open “Black Eyed Mouseketeers”, a new series of paintings by Bob Dob. The show is online and looks great.

Cave Gallery will open “Outside my Window”, a group show featuring art by Liz Brizzi, Adam Flores, Max Kauffman and more.

La Luz de Jesus is opening its four shows, as mentioned in an earlier post, with new art from Scott Holloway, Jessica Dalva, Misato Otake & Jasmine Worth.

Varnish Art will be having its last show at the current location, and will end it all with a new solo show entitled “ThankYouGoodbye” with works from Michael Page.

Strychnin Gallery will host “The Red Thread”, which features work by Jennybird Alcantra, Bethany Marchman and Edith Lebeau, who was a featured artist on the Creep Machine. Congrats Edith!

Saturday:
Copro Gallery will open “The Blab! Show” featuring new paintings by Joe Sorren, Andy Kehoe, Alex Gross, Jeff Soto, Femke Hiemstra, Shag, Kris Kuksi, Ryan Heshka, Martin Wittfooth, XNO, Travis Lampe, Owen Smith, Kathleen Lolley, Natalia Fabia, Andrew Brandou, Gary Taxali and more

Disctinction Art will open “Scientific Evolution”, with new artwork from Dan Lyderson, Sean Christopher, Jasmine Worth, Gene Guynn, Christian Van Minnen, Dave MacDowell and more. 10% of proceeds to benefit stem cell research.

Here is the rundown of the shows that will be taking place this weekend.

Friday:
Eclectix Gallery will open “All Gurlz” show featuring more than thirty female artists

Halogen Gallery previously Suite 100, has a show featuring new work by Kendra Binney, Rudy Fig and Jeremiah Ketner

Thinkspace Gallery will open “…Away From The Things Of Man” by Kathleen Lolley, “A Brief History” by Allison Sommers and in the project room “Inner Myth Pt. 1″ by João Ruas

Roq la rue will open “Lush Life”, a group show featuring work by Joe Sorren, Chris Berens, Chris Conn Askew, Mia Araujo,, Melissa Forman, Travis Louie, Madeline Von Foerster, Martin Wittfooth, Kukula, Ryan Heshka, John Brophy, Tin, Brian Despain, Glenn Barr, Dan Quintana, Femke Hiemstra, Laurie Hogin, Lisa Petrucci
& Andrew Arconti.

Hyaena Gallery has a one night event, Albrecht Durer and his ” “The Monstrous Sow
of Landser (1496)” engraving for sale. There will also be work by Chris “The Creep” Densmore, Clint Carney, Dan Harding, Alex Pardee, Erick De La Vega, .W. Frydendall, Delphia, Chuck Hodi and many more. The show is only night and is online, so check it out now.

Saturday:
Congregation Gallery is opening “Voodoo, Hoodoo, and Santeria: The Art of Conjure Black Carpet Arrivals” with new work from D. W. Frydendall, Christopher Ulrich, Munk One, Evil Paul, Eli Livingston, 13:11, Cate Rangel, Shawn Du Val Humiston, Glenda Rolie, Lloyd Mattews, Gene Guynn, Patrick Segui, David Cook, Sarah Hestal, Tiffany Garcia, Elizabeth Caffey, George De La Santos, Cam Rackam, Erick De La Vega, Skullmaster, Kevin Klemm, Steve Rodgers, Nicholas Caesar, Tatomir, Jim Parchen, RT Vegas, Dean Karr, Alina Stempa, Dave Rose, Romesh Mccullough, Tom Zimmerman, Renato Ruiz, Skip Crank, Jeremy Cross Voodoo Tarot Readings Cuban Cigar Roller Personal Voodoo Doll Maker

The Parlour Gallery at Halloween Town will open the Edgar Allan Poe group art show, with some work from Dan Harding, Eric Pigors, Gris Grimly, Zombienose and more.

Last Rites Gallery will open “Southern” a duo show with new work from Brian Viveros and Matthew Bone.

Lebasse Projects will open “Hello and Goodbye” by Yoskay Yamamoto and “Wild Fields” by Melissa Haslam

Shooting Gallery SF will open “Into The Woodz” a new solo show from Isabel Samaras. Then at the Gallery Three “Fantastic in the Sack” New Works By Dustin Olson

Copro Gallery will have “Strange Grooming Habits” by Travis Louie and “Sentimental” by Kathie Olivas

Joe Sorren has just released a new print to his online shop. This new print is a giclee on archival cotton rag paper, 18″ x 18″ and already framed for you. The print is signed and numbered in a low edition of 12. I absolutely love the painting style that Joe Sorren has, and the frame and matte that he choose is classy looking and fits the print well.

Joe Sorren Print Shop