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Category Archives: Contemporary Art

Studio Visits / Previews: Kenny Scharf – “Born Again” @ Honor Fraser Gallery

Posted by sleepboy, February 28, 2015

Tonight at Honor Fraser Gallery, Kenny Scharf (interviewed) will be presenting his latest solo exhibition to his fans in Los Angeles. The new showing promises to be a diverse one, ranging from a fresh set of paintings, a selection of rarely shown early videos and collage, to his never exhibited before assemblages. The new Born Again series sees the Scharf repurposing and painting over discarded artwork, which you can see him working on in the studio visit photos here. Also rounding things out will be a series of installations where the aforementioned videos will […]

Previews: “Ema Show” @ Hellion Gallery

Posted by sleepboy, February 27, 2015

On March 5th, Hellion Gallery’s Portland location will be opening a group exhibition featuring works created on small wooden plaques called “Ema” on which Shinto worshipers write their prayers or wishes. Most of the artists like Stella Im Hultberg (above) used the plaques to paint on but some went took a more novel sculptural approach. Participants include Brendan Monroe (US), Tadaomi Shibuya (Japan), Mary Iverson (US), Dave Macdowell (US), Anandine Urruty (France), Skinner (US), Eric Wert (US), Stella Im Hultberg (US), Maryanna Hoggatt (US), Josh Keyes (US), AJ […]

Showing: Dave Kinsey – “Ashes to Ashes” @ Die Kunstagentin

Posted by SAL, February 25, 2015

With his current solo show now on view at Die Kunstagentin in Cologne, Germany, Dave Kinsey (featured) is continuing to explore a more abstract body of work, which was first introduced at his Detroit solo show back in October 2014 (covered). The pieces introduced through Ashes To Ashes are hugely influenced by the very basics, the essential elements of nature – water, dirt, rock, wood. Living in the Sierra Nevada mountains was the greatest inspiration for the artist, so this show “represents the personal impressions of his surroundings and his exploration of […]

Openings: Chris Berens & Patrick Kelly – “Nethermoor” & “Elusive Object” @ Roq La Rue

Posted by x43x, February 25, 2015

It has been four years since Chris Berens last showed solo at Roq La Rue. Nethermoor, as the show is titled, is based on Michael Ende’s book, Die Unendliche Geschichte, or as many may know it, The Neverending Story. The show opening however, wove a story all its own. Bad weather on the East coast and shipping issues caused havoc with the large exhibition, resulting in an open without the art. While Chris and his wife traveled from Amsterdam to be in attendance, the art […]

Studio Visit: Matzu / Tomokazu Matsuyama – “Come with me” @ Gallery Wendi Norris

Posted by sleepboy, February 24, 2015

While preparing for his next big solo at Gallery Wendi Norris in San Francisco, Tomokazu Matsuyama (interviewed) recently hosted a studio visit from prolific art patron Swizz Beatz. While one of the pieces glimpsed in the New York-based artist’s workspace will end up in the record producer’s collection, the photos sent us reveals some of what Matzu has been working on for Come with me, his planned third solo with the Bay Area gallery. The exhibition opening on March 12th will feature paintings rendered in his signature aesthetic […]

Viewpoints / Recap: Dran – ‘Public Execution’ pop up show in Soho, London (Part II)

Posted by Patrick Nguyen, February 24, 2015

AM recently covered the opening and first week of the last show by Dran, which was hosted by Pictures On Walls and closed on Saturday 21 February. The uniqueness of Public Execution is that it was produced by the artist — bit by bit and in public view — over the course of its duration. A white space filled with spraypainted images of blank canvases on Day 1 evolved into a picture-rich multicoloured venue on Day 17, the grand finale. Some visitors have referred to […]

Upcoming: Revok @ Library Street Collective (Los Angeles)

Posted by sleepboy, February 24, 2015

Coming up on April 10th, Revok will be making a triumphant return to Los Angeles after a self-imposed exile for his first solo in the city he used to call his home. One of the most notorious graffiti artist of his generation but also one of the L.A. Sheriff Department’s most wanted vandals, he moved to Detroit to shield himself from the constant harassment from the police and legal ramifications of his residence there. While in Motown, he has further developed his fine art skills, […]

Openings: Haroshi – “Still Pushing Despite The Odds” @ Jonathan LeVine Gallery

Posted by SAL, February 22, 2015

On February 19th, Jonathan LeVine Gallery opened Still Pushing Despite The Odds, a new solo by Haroshi (featured) at their location on West 23rd Street. Consisting of mostly large scale works, this is his third show with the showspace in Chelsea, and is a great demonstration of his unique skills and inventiveness. The Tokyo-based artist’s signature technique of creating incredible sculptural works using old skateboards has evolved so much from his initial concepts with this new body of work being great example of his current concepts. By compressing the boards in different […]

Overtime: Feb 16 – Feb 22

Posted by Khoi, February 22, 2015

More stories from the week that ended Feb 21 (click on bolded words for more information): Landon Metz show opens at James Fuentes. Metz discusses the show with Interview Magazine. RIP: Sheila Caro, artist and wife of Anthony Caro. Michael Asher’s only permanent outdoor work destroyed by man welding a sledgehammer. UN Security Council bans all trade in artifacts from Syria, accusing IS militants of looting to raise funds. Dispute over Cornelius Gurlitt’s will delaying efforts to research works and process restitution cases. Prosecutor in […]

Viewpoints / Openings: Dran — ‘Public Execution’ pop-up show in Soho, London

Posted by Patrick Nguyen, February 21, 2015

It’s been some time since Pictures On Walls has organised an art exhibition. The previous one was in December 2013 with the Shok-1 solo show, X-Rainbow. Last year, POW gave up its premises on Commercial Street in East London. With a permanent show space no longer retained, the number of print releases in 2014 restricted to a small handful (by Paul Insect, Maya Hayuk and Invader), and plenty of competitors arriving on the street art scene eager to fill the void, many wondered what the […]