Archive for May, 2009
Friday, May 29th, 2009
Be Here Now in LA
Be Here Now opens this Saturday, May 30, at Canvas LA, and features a select group of emerging New York artists. We’re particularly interested in what Eric Elms and Ned Vena will offer up. Elms (Adorn) is an established graphic designer specializing in brand identity, with a client list including Nike, Supreme, Colette, and aNYthing. Vena, who has roots in graffiti (he used to assist ESPO), creates abstract paintings which bare no visual resemblance to the form, but are executed using its tools and foster a dialogue that questions the accepted genres of the art establishment.
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Preview :: Ryan Dineen @ Show & Tell
Canadian artist Ryan Dineen is offering an inspired new collection of oils on canvas at Show & Tell Gallery in Toronto. “In The Peripheral” is the artist’s contemplation of the urban landscape. The process often begins with a photo reference; however, Dineen often engages his subjects, taking the time to learn about their lives: “I look at this series as my way of communicating my surroundings. I want to portray the charisma and individuality of my subject matter to the viewers, all the while leaving them to decipher their own feelings toward the work.” Starting as a graffiti artist, Dineen has adroitly employed sanctioned public murals to harness his voice. These ‘community’ projects can be appreciated in places like Melrose in Hollywood, to the artist’s neighborhood of Cabbagetown, Toronto. The show runs May 29-June 21. A preview follows: Read the rest of this entry »
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Yoskay Yamamoto’s Koibito @ LeBasse
koibito by yamamoto
Rightfully well-supported, Yoskay Yamamoto‘s release of his ‘gallery’ edition Koibito drew in an eager league of fans. Dropping at LeBasse Projects, the vinyl rendition, sculpted by Yamamoto himself, is a co-production with Munky King. Limited to 150, the white version of this artist-multiple follows on the heels of a phenomenally successful solo art show at the same gallery. For a young artist to be viably defying the present sad state of the economy is indeed impressive and shows the promise he holds for future conquest. A very small portion of prints, also offered at the event, were set aside for release on Paper Tiger at 12:30PM PST on 05/28/09. Word is that a new original painting by Yoskay will be available at the gallery for its opening during this weekend’s Culver City Art Walk. Photos follow: Read the rest of this entry »
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Santa Monica Auction’s 25th Anniversary Contemporary + Modern Art Auction
The highest estimated lot at this weekend’s Santa Monica Auction is Ed Ruscha’s Hollywood Stunt People, 1998, estimated at $150,000-$180,000.
This Saturday, May 30, Santa Monica Auctions will hold its 25th anniversary modern and contemporary art auction, featuring painting, sculpture, photography, multiples and prints. The event kicks off at 1pm at the Bergamot Station Arts Center, in Santa Monica (just outside of Los Angeles), and online bidding can be done here. With a heavy focus on modestly priced prints and editions, the 353 lot auction features many of the established names one would expect to find in a modern and contemporary sale, alongside several newer faces who have emerged from the urban art world, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Robert Rauschenberg, Man Ray, Takashi Murakami, Mark Ryden, Marcel Dzama, FAILE, Banksy, Shepard Fairey and Antony Micallef.
Mark Ryden – Untitled. Pencil on paper. Estimate: $20,000-$24,000.
Read on for the rest of our selection of lots. Read the rest of this entry »
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
ESPO in NY Times (Again)
Screen Grab from The Moment, The NY Times Stlye Blog
The Moment (The NY Times Style Magazine’s blog) just reviewed Steve Powers‘ current exhibit at White Flag Projects in St. Louis (our previous coverage here and here). This certainly isn’t the first time the media outlet has taken notice of Powers. In 2005 he was featured twice – first in the New York Times Magazine and then the newspaper – when they covered his rain slicker and Dreamland Artist Club projects, and again in 2006, when the magazine invited him to rework their logo for the Women’s Fashion Fall issue, which was featured across a full page, in addition to a separate artist profile (see images below). In 2008 ESPO again received multiple mentions, with full length articles chronicling both his Waterboard Thrill Ride at Coney Island and Fulbright Scholarship in Ireland (accompanied by this online slideshow).
Scanned from the TAC archives – The New York Times Style Magazine, Women’s Fall Fashion 2006. Click for larger views.
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Evan Hecox Keeps Busy in Cincinnati
Evan Hecox opens a new solo exhibit this Saturday, May 30, at Country Club’s Cincinnati location (the gallery recently launched a second location in LA). The artist has been quite busy over course of the last year, with exhibits in two separate locations across the Netherlands (reported here), at Andenken Gallery in Denver, as well as having released a series of prints with Arkitip. Quite possibly the culmination of all this activity will come when Hecox takes over Joshua Liner Gallery this coming fall.
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Mike Davis + Heidi Taillefer at Joshua Liner
Joshua Liner Gallery opens new exhibits from Mike Davis and Heidi Taillefer, this Saturday, May 30. Fans of surreal and fantasy driven art will want to check this out.
Mike Davis – Stories From the Other Side of the Bridge
Heidi Taillefer – An Uncanny Lineup of Serendipitous Connections
Opening Reception May 30, 6-9pm – June 27
Joshua Liner Gallery
548 W. 28th Street, 3rd Floor
NY, NY 10011
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
KAWS x Sorayama Figure
We just caught wind of this upcoming figure collaboration between KAWS and Hajimie Sorayama. Based off the signature on the sketch, its clear this conceptual design was illustrated by Sorayama, however KAWS hinted to the project on his Dec. 2 blog post, noting the two had started working on the project a few years ago. The sculpture will be cast in metal and is a hybrid of the KAWS Companion with Sorayama’s Future Mickey Mouse (pictured below), which was also released by Medicom Toys. We can only guess this guy will be called Future Companion, continuing the ongoing progression of the character that KAWS has already developed, from the Original, through the Five Year Later versions. No news yet on a release date, but price is rumored to be around $1,100.
Thanks goes out to TCLY for the tip off.
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Last Chance :: Document at Paul Bright
Robert Jager
There’s still time to catch the current exhibit on display at Paul Bright Gallery in Toronto. Document focuses on the work of four American photographers, who each present new bodies of documentary photography focusing on our nation’s numerous and distinct subcultures, including Colb Katz’s images of children’s beauty pageants, Robert Jager’s intimate portrait of gang life, Naomi Harris’ revealing look at nudists, and Cheryl Dunn’s continued exploration of youth counter-culture. On view till May 30. Read through for more images. Read the rest of this entry »
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
New BAST P.O.W. Print
This one came and went quickly today. Edition of 150, 25.2 x 17.7 inches, signed, numbered and hand-painted. £285.