Low Brow & Pop Surrealism « Arrested Motion

Category Archives: Low Brow & Pop Surrealism

Upcoming: Audrey Kawasaki @ Merry Karnowsky Gallery

Posted by sleepboy, July 3, 2014

It will be a little over three years when Audrey Kawasaki (interviewed) returns to the Merry Karnowsky Gallery, the site of her show in Los Angeles in 2011 (covered). Judging from these in progress shots, the new body of work will continue her series of exquisite female portraits on wood, letting the surface speak to her as she incorporates the grains and textures. The opening is scheduled for August 2nd and will also feature work from Tara McPherson & Deedee Cheriel on the same night. Discuss […]

Streets / World Tour: Jeff Soto (Bordeaux, France)

Posted by sleepboy, July 1, 2014

Southern California native, Jeff Soto (interviewed), recently traveled to Bordeaux, France where he had a chance to work on several art-related projects. First up is this wall he painted for the Darwin project and Spacejunk, his fourth mural in France (also see Lyon here & here). The Riverside-based artist took care to incorporate local graffiti into his mural featuring some old school imagery, expertly painting on the difficult corrugated siding. In the back, he also took 20 mins to do some quick lettering, getting back to […]

The Jeremy Fishing Contest

Posted by sleepboy, July 1, 2014

For those Jeremy Fish fans out there – the Bay Area-based artist has teamed up with Upper Playground to launch a fishing contest for the summertime with the prize being signed copies of his recent book Happily Ever After for each of the three categories as well as an original drawing for the biggest fish. He explains – “BIGGEST FISH WINS! Its summertime dudes, time to skip summer school, or quit your job and go fishing. Coming from a long line of fisherdudes, artist Jeremy Fish would […]

Showing: “Knock Knock” @ Galerie Javier Lopez

Posted by sleepboy, June 30, 2014

Last Thursday, Javier Lopez Gallery, presented the Knock Knock group show exhibition to fans in Spain. It featured works from contemporary artists whose work is influenced by comics like Kaws, Faile, Yoshitomo Nara, and comic artists themselves like Vanderbroucke & El Roto as well as underground comic visionaries, Robert Crumb, or graphic novel artists like Art Spiegelman and Chris Ware. In the upper floor of this wonderful gallery located in the outskirts of Madrid, there was a simple and amazing Snoopy Kaws acrylic on board right next to […]

Overtime: June 23 – June 29

Posted by Khoi, June 29, 2014

More stories from the week that ended June 29 (click on bolded words for more information): The Fifth Season show opens at James Cohan Gallery including Matthew Brandt, Pierre Huyghe, and others. RIP: Jennifer Wynne Reeves dies at the age of 51 due to brain cancer. RIP: Claude Simard, co-founder of Jack Shainman Gallery, who died unexpectedly. Helge Achenbach arrested due to fraud allegations. Nelson Saiers steps down as chief investment officer of Saiers Capital LLC to pursue a career as an artist. American exchange student pulled […]

Openings: Jacub Gagnon – “World’s Collide” @ Thinkspace

Posted by sleepboy, June 27, 2014

Last weekend, AM stopped by Thinkspace to check out the almost sold-out solo from Jacub Gagnon (interviewed) entitled World’s Collide. Painted against a black background, the surreal portraits of his chosen creatures really pop and seem even more vivid. Full of whimsy and imaginative touches, you can see the Toronto-based artist thought carefully about each element of the pieces, from title to composition. Take a look at more photos from the opening below. Discuss this show here. Discuss Jacub Gagnon here.

Previews: Gary Baseman – “The Door is Always Open” @ Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei

Posted by sleepboy, June 26, 2014

Tomorrow (June 27th) in Taiwan, the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei will opening a massive retrospective chronicling the career of Gary Baseman (interviewed) that has now spanned over three decades. Those who visited his amazing show last year in Los Angeles (covered), also entitled The Door Is Always Open, will already have gotten a small taste of what his fans in the capital of the ROC will be experiencing. His most comprehensive exhibition to date will include over 500 works, housed within the museum which will be […]

Showing: Mars-1 – “Toward A Distant Dawn” @ Martha Otero Gallery

Posted by sleepboy, June 26, 2014

Mario Martinez aka Mars-1 (featured) recently opened a solo at Martha Otero Gallery entitled Toward A Distant Dawn. The new body of work includes much of the creative output that we have seen from the Bay Area-based artist of late including monochromatic works, his colorful otherworldly paintings, and sculptural representations of his symmetric and geometric visions. Take a look at the photos below although it would be even more rewarding to see the work in person through July 19. Via Platinum Cheese. Discuss Mars-1 here.

Showing: Lori Earley – “The Devil’s Pantomime” @ Opera Gallery (New York)

Posted by sleepboy, June 25, 2014

Earlier this month, Lori Earley (interviewed) opened up a new solo that had been a long time coming at Opera Gallery’s New York location. Her largest exhibition to date, The Devil’s Pantomime, featured over 30 paintings & drawings created during her long battle with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (learn more here) over the last several years. AM stopped by to check out this deeply personal body of work recently and wanted to share some of the photos with you. The show runs through tomorrow (June 26th) for […]

Releases: Joe Ledbetter – “Fire-Cat” Figure

Posted by sleepboy, June 25, 2014

Those who have been in the vinyl art toy game for a while will no doubt remember Joe Ledbetter’s original Fire-Cat figure, one of his iconic characters. The Los Angeles-based artist has now decided to release an updated version of the toy – producing, funding and designing this project himself. Billed as his first independent vinyl toy, the edition will be limited to 400, stand almost 11 inches tall (one of his largest figures to date), and cost $99. Buy the J.Led figure directly from his website […]