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Posts from Patrick Nguyen...

Openings: ‘Marks & Stencils’ pop-up gallery, London

Last Thursday, AM was in London’s Soho district to attend the opening of Marks & Stencils: the Pictures On Walls Christmas season pop-up gallery exhibition, which in previous years has gone by the name of Santa’s Ghetto. There was a great atmosphere at the event. No doubt this was partly assisted by the deceptively strong cocktails being served, which led us to yet again repeat our mistake of equating “sweet drink” with “harmless drink”. But that’s another story. The show harbours a selection of prints […]

Preview: Cleon Peterson – ‘Daybreak’ @ New Image Art

The art of Cleon Peterson has never been for the fainthearted. Like Pieter Bruegel the Elder‘s painting The Triumph of Death, his unapologetic, graphic depictions of acts of brutality are both disquieting and strangely captivating. Daybreak is the artist’s latest solo show opening this Saturday, November 20th at New Image Art Gallery. The exhibition, which draws inspiration and its title from Nietzsche’s Daybreak: Reflections on Moral Prejudices, marks Peterson’s powerful return with another morally ambiguous and beautifully composed orgy of violence. See our preview of […]

Streets: Interesni Kazki in Barcelona

AM has been keeping a close eye on AEC and Waone, who together form the Ukranian duo Interesni Kazki (Interesting Fairy Tales). Earlier this year, the two Kiev-based artists had a solo show at Galerie All Over in Lyon, France. Last month, original drawings by them were displayed at Pictures On Walls in a group show coinciding with the launch (featured) of Tristan Manco‘s new book, Street Sketchbook: Journeys. Another exhibition of their colourful fantasy-world creations will be held next spring in Milan. Interesni Kazki […]

Studio Visits: Retna

AM rarely experiences the sensation of studio envy, but the pang certainly hit us upon arriving at Retna‘s abode and work space. It was pretty much a “Holy Guacamole!” moment. And we don’t even like Robin. The studio in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles apparently measures some 3,500 square feet. We immediately knew it would be perfect for the AM team training sessions in preparation for the international synchronised hula hooping championships. Unfortunately, Retna wasn’t very keen on the idea of subletting to […]

Studio Visits / Preview: Ernesto Yerena Montejano – ‘GANAS 2020′ @ White Walls Gallery

Some weeks back, AM spent time with Ernesto Yerena Montejano at his garage studio in Los Angeles. Over the course of three and a half years, until summer 2009, Yerena worked as an artist assistant for Shepard Fairey at both Studio Number One and Studio Number Two (featured). We were able to have a look around as he now prepared for GANAS 2020, his debut solo show which opens this Saturday, November 13th at White Walls Gallery in San Francisco and runs until December 4th. The exhibition is named after a fictional community-based movement Yerena has created […]

Set-up: Swoon – “Small Acts of Resistance” group show @ Black Rat Projects

Hot on the heels of the recent opening of her Fata Morgana solo show at Galerie L.J. in Paris, Swoon (interviewed) made a trip to London last week. AM had the pleasure of spending some time with the artist over a couple of days while she prepared a site-specific installation at Black Rat Projects for Small Acts of Resistance, a group show that will also feature works by Peter Kennard, Dotmasters, Matt Small (interviewed), Know Hope, and Armsrock (interviewed). The exhibition’s title references the recently-published book […]

Openings: Will Barras – “Bad Reception” @ StolenSpace Gallery

Following our preview post last week, AM spent some time with Will Barras at StolenSpace Gallery in East London during the set-up of “Bad Reception”, his latest solo show consisting largely of acrylic and spraypaint paintings on canvas. It was a great opportunity to chat with Barras about a variety of topics including the highly-influential French comics artist, Moebius — who worked on films like Alien and The Fifth Element, and whose drawings influenced Ridley Scott on the visual design of Blade Runner. Long-time friend […]

Openings: Tristan Manco – “Street Sketchbook: Journeys” Book Launch @ Pictures On Walls

Although people often exaggerate about how bad London weather is, the city did live up to its reputation on Friday, October 1st when hit by repeated rain showers.  It was one of those grim and miserable days where even locals armed with umbrellas lose the will to fight.  They simply resign themselves to the fate bestowed upon them of damp clothing, wet shoes and socks, and a squishing sound made with each footstep. Resisting the temptation that evening to just go straight home, lie down […]

Studio Visit / Preview: Augustine Kofie – ‘Retrofitted and Other Forms of Vintage Futurism’ @ White Walls

Last month, graffiti writer, illustrator, designer and fine artist Kofie’One / Augustine Kofie kindly granted AM access to his studio spaces in the Filipinotown district of Los Angeles. Kofie was preparing for “Retrofitted and Other Forms of Vintage Futurism”, his debut solo exhibition at White Walls Gallery in San Francisco which opens on Saturday, October 9th. Those familiar with Kofie’s work will immediately recognize his new canvases. They’ve retained the style which has become his trademark: an architectural feel, an emphasis on precision and balance, […]

Studio Visits / Preview: Deedee Cheriel – ‘Abracadabra’ @ Merry Karnowsky Gallery

AM recently had the pleasure of dropping in on Deedee Cheriel at her sunny home and studio in the Echo Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles.  Her latest exhibition, ‘Abracadabra’, opens Saturday, October 9th at Merry Karnowsky Gallery in LA alongside the new show by Mark Whalen (Kill Pixie), ‘Paralleled Opposites’. Cheriel uses animals to portray emotion, and the characters in her narrative pieces are often reminiscent of the anthromorphic deities depicted by the ancient Egyptians.  She describes the exhibition’s title as referring to the transformation […]