Contemporary Art « Arrested Motion

Category Archives: Contemporary Art

Studio Visits/Preview: Tomokazu Matsuyama – “In Case You’re Lost” @ Frey Norris

Posted by juggernut3, February 2, 2010

Last month, we gave you a little teaser of Tomokazu “Matsu” Matsuyama’s (interviewed) west coast solo at Frey Norris. Now, we bring you an exclusive studio visit & sneak peek into some of the mind boggling pieces that will grace the gallery walls come this Thursday, February 4th (6pm-8pm). As you can clearly see from the latest incarnation of his iconic “Runnin’ Deep” imagery, he’s going for the gusto. With bolder colors and even bolder compositions, this is one of the shows that we’re looking forward to […]

Art Los Angeles Contemporary Fair 2010

Posted by Khoi, February 1, 2010

For one 4-day weekend, the spectacular Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood was the site of the first ever Art Los Angeles Contemporary, which took place January 28-31. Almost every top gallery in Los Angeles and a few from around the world participated in the event, showing new works from emerging to internationally-recognized blue chip artists. In addition to the exhibitors, the fair also hosted a series of special programming throughout Los Angeles, including artist lectures, panels, events and film screenings. Of course, AM was […]

Video: Kehinde Wiley x PUMA x Africa x World Cup

Posted by sleepboy, January 31, 2010

While his former assistants Kevin Cyr and Jason Bryant opened their own show in NY, Kehinde Wiley was busy working with on a new World Cup project with PUMA in Africa. Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon, John Mensah of Ghana, and Emmanuel Eboué of Ivory Coast, three of Africa’s brightest soccer stars, sat down with Kehinde and posed for individual portraits as well as one all together symbolizing the unity of their continent. Take a look at the video documenting the project above as well as […]

Update: Jin Young Yu

Posted by sleepboy, January 31, 2010

It’s been a while since AM sat down for a chat with Korean artist Jin Young Yu so we thought we would update you with some of her new work since then. You may have had some glimpses of these pieces from our coverage of the London Art Fair and the Aqua Art Fair during Basel Week Miami, but you can see a full set of pics after the jump…

Openings: Alex Prager – “Week-end” @ Yancey Richardson and M+B

Posted by Ken, January 30, 2010

Alex Prager’s third installment of her trilogy on Valley life, “Week-End” opens today, January 30th, in Los Angeles at M+B Gallery while the New York showing at Yancey Richardson will continue till the 20th of February. Whereas her two previous shows, “Polyester” and “The Big Valley” respectively presented the glamor of vintage suburban life and it’s gradual deterioration, “Week-End” is a dark look into the lives of her subjects as their world finally unfurls. In a style reminiscent of Cindy Sherman mixed with a color […]

Video: David Ellis “Musical Trash” Installation

Posted by sleepboy, January 30, 2010

David Ellis must be one of the most versatile artists out there with his multifaceted approach to art. You may remember his work as a street artist in the impressive “graffiti-animation” video he did with Blu at the Fame Festival last year. Or perhaps you enjoyed his gallery work for New Image Art last summer? What stands out most for us recently though was the the huge trash sound installation we experienced that he created for the Anonymous Gallery booth at the SCOPE art fair […]

Openings: Stephanie Gutheil – “Kopftheater” @ Mike Weiss

Posted by AM Editor, January 29, 2010

Mike Weiss Gallery in Chlesea recently opened an interesting show by young German artist Stefanie Gutheil. The exhibition is entitled “Kopftheater”, which translates to “Theater of the mind” and is a fitting description of the strange and imaginative worlds portrayed in Gutheil’s paintings. The press release name-drops 15th and 16th-century Dutch painters Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel as influences, but we think that her creatures remind us a lot of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. Take a look at the images and decide for yourself, after the […]

Sketchbook: Ian Francis

Posted by juggernut3, January 29, 2010

Time for another peek inside a sketchbook. “Practice makes perfect” and if the old axiom is true then it may explain Ian Francis’ crazy skills with the brush. Ever the passionate artist, Ian is constantly honing his concepts and technique with sketches and studies. As AM observed in our recent studio visit (here), Ian’s studio was littered (certainly didn’t look like “litter”) with numerous sketches of his fantastic landscapes and hypnotic characters. Mostly utilizing just charcoal and graphite for what he refers to as “simple doodles,” Ian […]

Teaser: Jonathan LeVine Five Year Anniversary Group Show

Posted by sleepboy, January 28, 2010

James Jean (interviewed) recently posted up images of two small paintings (12″ x 12″) for the upcoming Jonathan LeVine Five Year Anniversary Group Show. The two pieces are beautiful although disturbing as they feature shoemakers, but also what appear to be children – bringing up thoughts of child labor (one of them seen smoking). An intriguing start to a show we are naturally excited about, considering the pedigree of artist that has come through the LeVine gallery through the years. It opens on February 27th […]

Highlights: Recommended openings (Jan 27 – 30)

Posted by Andrew Hosner, January 28, 2010

As we gear up for February, the last shows of January are upon us this weekend. Los Angeles sees the debut of another new art fair in the form of Art Los Angeles Contemporary taking place at the Pacific Design Center and NYC welcomes Damien Hirst. The place to be this weekend appears to be Brazil though where Baseman (interviewed) and SHAG (interviewed) will be rocking things. As always, no shortage of goodness to go ‘round. Get out and support the arts! Check out the […]