Low Brow & Pop Surrealism « Arrested Motion

Category Archives: Low Brow & Pop Surrealism

Overtime: Dec 24 – Dec 30

Posted by Khoi, December 29, 2012

Stories from the week that just ended: The Guardian chooses the best photographs of 2012. Above: Bombs over Aleppo – photograph: Maysun/EPA LA Times’ list of notable deaths (including Kinkade, Kelley, Price, Benjamin) in art and culture in 2012. Proposal to sell photograph by Edvard Munch in Oslo museum to Centre Pompidou, Paris stirs controversy. BBC’s art controversies of 2012 – in pictures. L.A. City Council prohibits food trucks from parking on Wilshire, in front of LACMA between 9am and 4pm. Battle over estate of […]

Basel Week Miami ’12 / Art Focus: Kazuki Takamatsu

Posted by sleepboy, December 28, 2012

We’ve touched on the work of Kazuki Takamatsu before here on AM in a couple group shows, but seeing an entire series of works at the Gallery Tomura booth at SCOPE Miami (highlights here) really piqued our interest. The Japanese artist based in Sendai combines the use of computer imaging with traditional techniques to create eerie ghostlike characters through the medium of acrylic and gouache. The use of depth mapping generates a topographical effect to the portraiture (with some similarities to the the work of El Mac) […]

Preview: Supersonic Electric Invitational 2 @ Spoke Art

Posted by sleepboy, December 27, 2012

One of the first shows of the new year will be the 2nd Supersonic Electric Invitational held at the Spoke Art Gallery in San Francisco. The group exhibition (opening on January 3rd) will feature an expanded roster this year including Alessandra Maria, Allan Innman, Andrew Hem, Angie Wang, Audrey Kawasaki, Barnaby Ward, Brett Amory, Cam Floyd, Casey Weldon, Charmaine Olivia, Conrad Roset, Dan Christofferson, Erik Jones, James Jirat Patradoon, Jason Levesque, Jeremy Enecio, Joao Ruas (seen above), Jon Todd, Ken Garduno, Michael C. Hsiung, Mike Mitchell, Nimit […]

Basel Week Miami ’12 / Art Focus: Jorge Santos

Posted by sleepboy, December 27, 2012

As you saw from our coverage and cover image for CONTEXT Art Miami, we were quite taken by an artist new to AM – Jorge Santos. Showing with 101/Exhibit as well as Evan Lurie Gallery, the American painter takes inspiration from the political turmoil and struggles of his formative years in Angola and Portugal to create surreal and brooding scenes, a seemingly frozen snapshot in some fantastic story. With his works overflowing with intriguing characters and details, we found ourselves continually discovering new things as […]

Basel Week Miami ’12: Brian Viveros – “War of the Roses” @ SCOPE / Thinkspace

Posted by sleepboy, December 26, 2012

After posting up the photos from Amy Sol’s (interviewed) solo during this year’s SCOPE art fair in Miami, it’s now time to share the other artist featured in the Thinkspace booth – Brian Viveros. We caught an early glimpse at the new body of work, entitled War of the Roses, during a studio visit last month, and now fair-goers were able to enjoy what we had experienced – femme fatale portraiture with a Spanish twist and plenty costumed goodness. Take a look at the rest of the photos below… […]

Openings: “20 Pieces of Dreams” @ Giant Robot 2

Posted by sleepboy, December 25, 2012

A while back, before the current Post It 8 show (covered) that has taken over the walls of Giant Robot 2, a special show was put on at the gallery entitled 20 Pieces of Dreams. The group exhibition was curated by Mari Inukai and was meant to be in celebration of her daughter Sena’s 20th birthday, a coming of age event in Japanese culture. Included artists were many of Mari’s friends like Amy Sol, Audrey Kawasaki, Edwin Ushiro, Elizabeth Ito, Fumi Omori, Katsuya Terada, Kent Williams, Sean Chao, Stella Im Hultberg, Tessar […]

Releases: VNA 20

Posted by sleepboy, December 25, 2012

If you haven’t read the recent issue of VNA, now might be the time to make your purchase. With issue 20 covering a wide range of artists who have frequented the pages of AM like cover artist RETNA (see video here), Greg Simkins, Neckface, Smash 137, Josh Keyes, ABOVE, and more, you will be sure to find something that interests you. Too bad the special Ronzo Christmas wrapping paper is out of stock, but you can still enjoy the magazine by buying it here.

Openings: Sarah Joncas – “Taking Over” @ Last Rites Gallery

Posted by sleepboy, December 23, 2012

Earlier this month, the Last Rites Gallery in New York hosted the opening reception welcoming all new works from Sarah Joncas (interviewed). Entitled Taking Over, the new paintings see her semi-autobiographical portraits embrace a darker side with dangerous creatures, eerie transformations, and morbid scenes added to her imagery, which is not surprising seeing the setting (and their penchant for the dark arts) in which they are being displayed. Check out some photos below as well as video interview… Discuss Sarah Joncas here.

Overtime: Dec 17 – Dec 23

Posted by Khoi, December 23, 2012

Stories from the week that just ended: Although the image is old, the bible scene interrupted by Middle East conflict is purportedly on Banksy’s Christmas card this year. RIP: billionaire mega-collector and dealer Giuseppe Nahmad. Simon de Pury resigns after 12 years as chairman of Phillips de Pury after selling his remaining interest. UK teacher discovers William James Webb painting in her attic and it sells for almost $1 million at Christie’s. Crewest Gallery in downtown Los Angeles to close after ten years. 323East Gallery […]

Openings: Sam Flores – “Lion and the Lamb” @ Fifty24SF

Posted by rhinomilk, December 21, 2012

Last week, Fifty24SF hosted Sam Flores’s long awaited San Francisco exhibition entitled Lion and the Lamb. This is the local artist’s first solo showing in the city in nearly 5 years, and he decided to showcase his new body of work with the company that he has consistently collaborated with in the past on his 12 Grain clothing line (Upper Playground). Fans queued up the street to meet the long admired artist, and were greeted by a custom wall division installation as well as a […]