Virtu Art Gallery has just released a new limited edition print by Martin Wittfooth entitled Drain. This new print is 10″ x 10″ on a sheet of 12″ x 12″ Hahnemuhle Bamboo Paper. Each print is signed and numbered in an edition of 100, and come with a certificate of authenticity.
Get em here: Martin Wittfooth @ Virtu Art Gallery
Opening this week, May 10th, is a group show curated by Nathan Spoor entitled Suggestivism NYC. This new show will feature over 40 of the most exciting, intriguing, and talented artists in the contemporary art scene such as: Chris Mars, Skinner, Chet Zar, Dan May, Nathan Ota, Jeff McMillan, Rod Luff, Sas Christian, Colin Christian, Joe Vaux, Bob Schneider, Mia, Naoto Hattori, Bob Dob, Tom Bagshaw, Jason Maloney, David Molesky, Darren LeGallo, Michael Page, Kevin Peterson, Thomas Doyle, Sandow Birk, Heidi Taillefer, Yevgeniya Mikhailik, Brendan Monroe, Annie Owens, Eric Althin, Jason Limon, Joey Remmers, Chandler Wood, Martin Wittfooth, Eric Richardson, Francesco LoCastro, Nathan Spoor, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters, Scott Scheidly, NC Winters, Christian Van Minnen, Winnie Truong, Julian Callos, Heiko Müller, and Marco Mazzoni.
According to Spoor, Suggestivism “does not center around claiming a title for giving any movement a name, but for introducing a common creative thread amongst several disparate and unique voices within the modern art world.” Richard Chang once stated that Suggestivism has its roots in 19th century artist such as James McNeill Whistler, Georges Seurat and Arthur B. Davies. The show will run until June 30th, so if your in the area, make sure to stop by.
Opening this Saturday, April 21st, at the Copro Gallery in Santa Monica is a new group show entitled Twin Peaks; Fire Walk With Me
20th Anniversary Group Art Exhibition. A year ago in February, Clifton’s Brookdale hosted In the Trees: Twin Peaks 20th Anniversary Art Exhibition, which had some amazing artwork (seen here), and many of he artists from that round will be seen in this latest exhibition. Martin Wittfooth, Glenn Barr, Chris Berens, Brett Amory, Chris Mars, Dan May, Chris Buzelli, Billy Norrby, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Esao Andrews, Lori Earley, Brian Viveros, Ryan Heshka, Scott C, Chet Zar, Paul Chatem, Stella Im Hultberg, and many more.
There is some very strong work in this exhibition, I was especially intrigued with the paintings by Billy Norrby, Glenn Barr, and Dan Quintana. Stella Im Hultberg submitted another beautiful painting, and I was happy see a landscape by Chris Peters. The stand out piece for me was Deliverance by Lori Earley (seen first). I was a great surprise to see Lori submit a digital painting that had some oil, acrylic, and mixed media embellishments to it. The more I looked at it I could see her style peek out, but the overall work is a new direction that I really hope she continues with. During the reception there will be a limited edition print available of this painting, un-embellished, signed and numbered in an edition of 20. This is bound to be a mind-blowing exhibition, so if your in the area make sure to stop by, otherwise check out the preview images and then over to the website.
“Twin Peaks; Fire Walk With Me” @ Copro Gallery
Martin Wittfooth has a new print available on his online shop entitled The Baptism. This print is 20″ x 20″ on a 24″ x 24″ sheet of 310 gsm Hahnemuhle paper with UV protective varnish, signed and numbered in an edition of 50. Each print also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The great thing about this print, aside from getting an outstanding looking images, is that 25% of each print sale is donated to the Big Life Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Africa’s wildlife and ecosystems.
Get it here: Martin Wittfooth Online Shop
I first saw the work of Marco Mazzoni, currently based in Milan, Italy, last year and shortly after he made the cover of Hi Fructose magazine. It’s not often that you see an artist use a medium like colored pencils, and produce something so painterly and delicate at the same time. The works are filled with color and have a sculptural element to the figures that Marco achieves with the chiaroscuro technique, rendering with darks and lights. I am very happy to have Marco kick of the site as the featured artist for 2012, the 5th year the site has been going. After the images and short interview, make sure to head over to Marco’s site for more work and updates.
(Interview has been edited slightly for translation)
Creep: You have drawing since you were younger, did you attend an art college and if so what was your experience like?
Marco: I attended Brera Art Academy in Milan, but in 4 years of school a lot of the professors tried to get me to abandon drawing to be a painter.. so I really think my “school” was all the time I spent using pencils.
Creep: Who are some of the artists, current and past, that have influenced your work?
Marco: I love some current artists like Nicola Verlato and Nicola Samorì¬ because they are italian in their works, and I think that the roots is the basis to be international, I really love Martin Wittfooth, Turf One and Josh Keyes, but the artists that influenced my work the most are Ribera and Goya. Their chiaroscuro technique is the fundamental part of my drawings.
Creep: You primarily use colored pencils. What is it about this medium that you like?
Marco:MIt’s a medium for children, and I am interested in bringing a medium considered easy to be extreme. The pencils are fantastic for glazing and also doesn’t have the drying time that oil has.
Creep: When did you start creating your current style of work, figures with plant life, and what was the inspiration for this?
Marco: I started this kind of work after reading “Malleus Maleficarum” in 2009. I try to speak about the women and their knowledge with medicinal plants. Here in Italy we lost this knowledge because the church eliminated those who could use alternative medicine.
Creep: In each of your work there is a variety of plant and insect life. Can you tell us a bit about your favorite plants and insects, and what they mean to you?
Marco: In my work the plants are all medical or hallucinogenic plants, I did a lot of research to select the floral subjects and the insects. The birds are most of the time butterfly and hummingbirds because they are the animals that move pollen, so it’s a kind of circle that creates and cares for life.
On Saturday, November 12, the Copro Gallery opened a group show sure to make any art fan gaze endlessly at the screen, or in person if your lucky enough. Dark Water is a group show curated by Martin Wittfooth and features the work of: Aron Wiesenfeld, Billy Norrby, Andrew Hem, Adam Miller, Charlie Immer, Alyssa Monks, Steven Assael, Christian Van Minnen, Jenny Morgan, Caitlin Hackett, Brad Kunkle, Dave Cooper, Elizabeth Winnel, Jean-Pierre Roy, Keniche Hoshine, Jean Labourdette (Turf One), Matt Rota, Jason Yarmosky, Nicola Verlato, Phil Hale, John Brophy, Eric White, Josh Keyes, Jeremy Lipking, and even Martin Wittfooth. The thing that makes this show so amazing, besides the outstanding work from each artist, is the idea that this show is really a collection of some of the mot talented, exciting artists creating art today. This show has the ability to give fans of Josh Keyes, Martin Wittfooth, or Jeremy Lipking, an introduction to some other artists that might not have been on their radar. It’s also one of those exhibitions that every work is breathtaking and has the ability to steal the show. Below are more than a few examples of favorites from the show, the rest are over at the galleries homepage.
In anticipation of the upcoming BLABWORLD No. 2 and 3, Copro Gallery opened the 7th Annual “Blab Show” featuring work by many of the best artists working today, such as: Joe Sorren, Ana Bagayan, Shag, Marc Burckhardt, Chet Zar, Martin Wittfooth, R.S. Connett, Laurie Hogin, Sas Christian, Ryan Heshka, Gary Baseman, Owen Smith, Alex Kuno, and many more. Ryan Heshka was not only in the group show, but opened his latest solo exhibition “Strange Powers 2” at the gallery as well. The great thing about this new show by Heshka, was that along with the paintings he also offered original drawings and sketches, that were used to prepare for the paintings. It was a great way to give the fans an insight into the working process, and show off Ryan’s drawing skills as well.
On August 12th Roq La Rue in Seattle, WA opened the latest Blab! Show group invitational, with a specific theme of the Krampus as inspiration. For those not familiar with the Krampus, he is a pre-christian demon like creature that accompanied St Nick during Christmas and punished the bad children. The exhibition features work by Ryan Heshka, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Erik Mark Sandberg, Yoko d’Holbachie, Travis Louie, Travis Lampe, Martin Wittfooth, Ana Bagayan, Owen Smith, Chris Buzelli, Shag, Brian Despain, Mark Garro, Marc Burkhardt, Laurie Hogin, Andy Kehoe, Derek Nobbs, Alex Kuno, Andrew S. Arconi, Julianna Swaney, Jason Holley, and Fred Stonehouse. The folks over at Loved To Death, made their way from San Francisco to Seattle to check out the show. Brennan was nice enough to write a review for the Creep and share some photos as well. Take it away Brennan, after the jump.
