Openings « Arrested Motion

Category Archives: Openings

Openings: “Art Truancy – Celebrating 20 Years of Juxtapoz Magazine” @ Jonathan LeVine Gallery

Posted by Manuel Bello, May 26, 2014

The year was 1994, Pulp Fiction was ruling the box office, The Beastie Boys were blasting Sabotage and a group of artists out in sunny California were brainstorming on how to start a Kustom Kulture magazine, that (unbeknownst to them) would eventually go on to be the most widely distributed and influential art magazine in the world. Famed painter Robert Williams (originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico) was riding a California wave, while collaborator, Fausto Vitello, was ripping with his Thrasher Magazine success, and with some key […]

Openings: Walton Ford – “Watercolors” @ Paul Kasmin

Posted by sleepboy, May 23, 2014

The last time we were able to experience Walton Ford’s work in person in New York was in 2011 when he blew us away with his surreal portraits of King Kong as well as his well known naturalistic paintings. This time around, the American artist’s return to Paul Kasmin Gallery featured large scale watercolors of his chosen creatures in unusual and and ironically unnatural urban and outdoor settings. As per his usual practice, the pieces were embellished with notes, but for the first time included musings from the […]

Openings: Todd “REAS” James – “Secret Garden” @ Galeria Patricia Armocida

Posted by SAL, May 22, 2014

After featuring his works in a couple of group shows over the years, Galeria Patricia Armocide recently opened a solo from Todd James. Entitled Secret Garden the show includes seven large-scale acrylic on canvas paintings and eight medium and small-scale gouache on paper paintings, and will stay on view until the 1st of August. Continuing his ongoing series of bright colored pieces capturing not so glamorous subjects and showing them in a new light, the work balances between ironic and erotic. His voluptuous blondes are naked and sexy, but […]

Openings: Ai Yamaguchi – “Shinchishirin” @ Joshua Liner Gallery

Posted by AM Editor, May 20, 2014

As it had been 12 years since Ai Yamaguchi’s last solo exhibition in New York City, the level of expectation and excitement for her return was understandably high. Even so, Shinchishirin at the Joshua Liner Gallery, which opened May 8th, far exceeds those high expectations, and is arguably one of the artist’s finest bodies of work to date. The imagery in the show is instantly recognizable as Yamaguchi, with her characteristic Edo-era courtesans depicted in a style which is at once based in traditional Japanese […]

Opening: Greg “Craola” Simkins – “Good Knight” @ Merry Karnowsky Gallery

Posted by carlosgonzalez, May 19, 2014

Over the weekend, the Merry Karnowsky Gallery unveiled the latest solo show, titled Good Knight, by artist Greg “Craola” Simkins (featured). Just as his previous show a year ago (covered), this new body of work from the gifted painter brought in a massive crowd (including both fans and established artists like Laurie Lipton, Saber & Dabs Myla) eager to see his latest display of surreal and fantastical imagery. It’s safe to say that his work keeps getting better as time progresses with this exhibition displaying a variety of large and small […]

Openings: Mobstr – Sex, Drugs & Painting Canvases

Posted by butterfly, May 19, 2014

UK-based artist Mobstr (interviewed) recently launched his solo exhibition Sex, Drugs & Painting Walls Canvases at The Old Truman Brewery in London. Following his public works (covered here), the minimalistic street artist has created black and white canvases with witty text messages, flyers to support a ‘save the trees’ campaign, and a series of installations from dummy spray painters to the re-creation of the artist at work surrounded by a sea of draft messages. Photo credit: Butterfly. Discuss Mobstr here.

Openings: Sam Friedman – “Easy” @ Library Street Collective

Posted by SAL, May 17, 2014

One month after his one night show at Kinfolk’s new 94Wythe space in NYC, for which he painted 72 different 12 x 12″ pieces, Sam Friedman opened his solo at the Library Street Collective in Detroit. Titled Easy, the show opened on the 10th of May and featured a new body of work by the young abstract painter. Continuing his ongoing series of works created by using bright colors, the new pieces depict vibrant flora and tropical sunsets. The compelling feel of these imaginary getaways invites the viewer to […]

Openings: Miaz Brothers – “Dematerialized: A New Contemporary Vision” @ Lazarides

Posted by butterfly, May 16, 2014

Italian contemporary painters Miaz Brothers recently debuted their soldout UK solo exhibition at Lazarides Rathbone titled Dematerialized: A New Contemporary Vision. The show features a selection of large portrait paintings from their Antimatter series, utilizing the layering of spraypaint to create a special blurry effect. Upon close look, the paintings look abstract, but from a distance, portraits are revealed. A selection of sculptures are also on display. The show runs until June 15th. Photo credit: Butterfly.

Frieze Week NYC ’14: PULSE

Posted by juggernut3, May 16, 2014

Once considered a top satellite fair for emerging to mid-career artists, PULSE lost some of that reputation in recent years, as many of its exhibitors jumped ship to other competing fairs. However, at the beginning of 2014, PULSE took on a new director tasked with bringing it back to its former status. And the difference was somewhat visible last week, as PULSE New York emerged with a smaller, more highly curated show. Amongst the booths, there were a few standouts worth mentioning, such as works […]

Basel Week HK ’14: Art Basel Hong Kong – First Look

Posted by juggernut3, May 16, 2014

It’s May and AM is on the second leg of its back to back Art Fair tour between Frieze Week in NYC (covered) and Art Basel Week in Hong Kong. In its second year after a takeover and changing its moniker to Art HK to Art Basel Hong Kong, this massive showcase has now officially evolved into the quintessential art fair for all of Asia. Drawing blue-chip galleries from all over the globe, ABHK brought the ever growing world of art to the doorstep of […]