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Category Archives: Low Brow & Pop Surrealism

Basel Week Switzerland ’15: SCOPE

With the art world focused in on the festivities in Switzerland, we start our coverage of Art Basel Week with a feature on SCOPE. Celebrating nine years in Basel, the fair returns to its pioneering location at Basel’s New Art District on the Rhine. Exhibitors hail from four continents and over twenty countries including China, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Italy, Iran, Russia, Turkey, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, UK, Spain, and Canada so there was a wide variety of artwork to enjoy. Seen in the […]

Streets: Jeff Soto (Los Angeles)

While prepping for his solo (more on this later) opening at KP Projects / MKG later this month, Jeff Soto (interviewed) recently found time to paint a mural just down the street from the Los Angeles showspace. Featuring one of his signature owls, the piece located on La Brea and West 1st Street will greet attendees when the show opens on June 26th. Take a look at more detailed and in-progress shots below… Photo credit: Jordan Ahern. Discuss Jeff Soto here.

Recap: Gary Baseman – “Happy Toby To You” @ Time Square Hong Kong

Continuing to spread his pervasive imagery to Asia (also see Shanghai & Taipei), Gary Baseman’s (interviewed) recent project saw him celebrating his iconic Toby character’s 10th birthday in Hong Kong. Held at the busy Time Square complex in Causeway Bay, the installation (arranged by LeBasse Projects) featured a dinner party for his faithful companion as well as photo exhibition of their travels together. Discuss Gary Baseman here.

Previews: “Vitality and Verve” @ Long Beach Museum of Art (Part I)

Yesterday, AM had the opportunity to stop by the Long Beach Museum of Art (LBMA) for what’s shaping up to be an epic exhibition. Put on in collaboration by Thinkspace Gallery, the people behind POW! WOW!, and LBMA, the main attraction of Vitality and Verve: Transforming the Urban Landscape are the on site installations and murals. While there, we enjoyed seeing the finishing touches and beginnings of works from Audrey Kawasaki (seen above), Aaron Horkey, Brendan Monroe, Cryptik, Esao Andrews, Greg “Craola” Simkins, Hot Tea, James Bullough, and Nosego. […]

Overtime: June 8 – June 14

More stories from the week that ended June 14 (click on bolded words for more information): Artsy looks at the Eve Fowler show at Mier Gallery. RIP: Alan Bond, who died at the age of 77 following heart surgery. Man stabbed in the neck in the gardens of Art Institute of Chicago. Egyptian temple of Karnak site of attempted terrorist attack. Heritige sites Great Dam of Marib and Al-Qahira castle in Yemen damaged by Saudi airstrikes. Zwelethu Mthethwa’s trial begins as he pleads not guilty to murder. Kosovo […]

Streets: Nate Frizzell for artBGC ONE (Manila)

A couple weeks ago, Nate Frizzell (interviewed) travelled to the Phillipines to take part in the artBGC ONE Festival. Despite not being a prolific muralist, the Los Angeles-based artist still was able to make his mark painting across the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) with his distinctive imagery of children at play. Curated by LeBasse Projects, and held in conjunction with the Bonifacio Arts Foundation (BAFI), the event also saw artists other international artists like FAILE, CYRCLE, AkaCORLEONE, Kristin Farr, Drew Merritt and Filipino artists Egg Fiasco and Anjo Bolarda join in […]

Previews / Interviews: House Warming @ Athen B. Gallery

This Saturday sees a new gallery in the city of Oakland open its doors with a group exhibition entitled House Warming. When Athen B. Gallery first announced its arrival on the scene last month with an open letter to artists and the community it sits within, we were intrigued. The inaugural group show features Aubrey Learner, Brett Flanigan, Caleb Hahne, Cannon Dill, Dan Hampe, David Bray, Eric Bailey, ESK, Ian Johnson, Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, Katherine Rutter, Lauren Napolitano, Lauren YS, Martina Merlini, Meryl Pataky (detail of her neon […]

Upcoming: “MONOCHROME” @ HHH Gallery

This Saturday night, June 13th, the HHH Gallery in Tokyo will be hosting a new group exhibition entitled MONOCHROME. Curated by Usugrow, one of the co-founders of the gallery along with Haroshi, the show will include pieces from Aaron Horkey, Mike Giant, SHOHEI, Kyotaro (seen above), Toshikazu Nozaka, Ozabu, Sadam, and Usugrow. The work will be created with pencils, mechanical pencils, black markers, ink pens, ink brushes, and everyday ballpoint pens, and although complex, will be monochromic as referenced by the title of the show. A zine […]

Openings: Casey Weldon – “Tropefiend” @ Spoke Art

Last weekend, Spoke Art in San Francisco welcomed back Casey Weldon (featured) for a third solo show at their space entitled Tropefiend. Using a vibrant retro color palette, the Seattle-based artist’s paintings feature his unique points of view, oftentimes surreal and filled with dark humor. He further explains the new body of work – “I think on one hand, the color palette I work with has been gradually getting darker, and I was getting really into recreating the glowing and reflecting colors of bright lights. The subject matter has been […]

Showing: Parra – “Salut” @ Alice Gallery

Alice Gallery in Brussels recently opened Salut, the first Belgium solo show by artist, designer, and illustrator, Parra. The show features a new body of work that includes drawings, paintings, and a large sculpture titled Give Up. With the fresh collection of works, Parra has gone back to mixing his signature lettering along with recognizable female figures. Curvaceous and naked, these blue ladies with beak faces are engaged in bizarre, often sexual activities. With lots of flat humor and double meanings, the Dutch artist’s imagery is both harmonious and […]