Arrested Motion

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Kehinde Wiley & Amy Sherald Obama Portraits Unveiled

Posted by sleepboy, February 13, 2018

Recently at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, official paintings of Barack and Michelle Obama were unveiled at a special ceremony. For the first time in the gallery’s history, African American artists were commissioned by the president and first lady for the portraits with Kehinde Wiley working with the Mr. Obama and Amy Sherald capturing Mrs. Obama’s likeness. In these charged times, it was especially fitting to choose artists in which the politics of race have figured prominently in their past work. Photo credit: Gabriella […]

Interventions: Ernest Zacharevic – “Save Our Souls” // Splash and Burn

Posted by SAL, February 12, 2018

Almost exactly one year since his last visit to Sumatra, artist and activist Ernest Zacharevic went back to Western Indonesia to complete another project for the ongoing Splash And Burn initiative. Seeking to use the presence of art in critical areas to initiate wider conversation on issues affecting community, consumerism, climate change and wildlife, the Lithuanian artist and his team produced a striking intervention carved directly into the scarred Sumatran landscape. Once again teaming up with the Orangutan Information Centre, a local charity working with the […]

Streets World Roundup (Dec ’17 – Jan ’18)

Posted by sleepboy, February 8, 2018

It’s been a while since our last Streets World Roundup so it was a little hard to narrow down what to share with you but we did our best. Leading things off up top is a new installation placed briefly on Wallstreet in New York by Icy an Sot. The large wadded-up $1 bill in the Financial District represents greed and volatility of capitalism according to the Iranian art duo. Other worthy walls include work from: Dabs Myla (Australia), Aiko (Vietnam), JR (USA), Dragon76 (USA), Eduardo Kobra […]

Upcoming: Yoshitomo Nara – “Drawings: 1988-2018 Last 30 Years” @ Kaikai Kiki Gallery

Posted by sleepboy, February 8, 2018

On February 9th, Yoshitomo Nara will be opening a show at Takashi Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki Gallery in Tokyo. Entitled Drawings: 1988-2018 Last 30 Years, the exhibition looks to be a retrospective of the Japanese artist’s drawings as well as the beginning of the gallery’s representation of Nara seeing as they will also be hosting a solo booth of his work at Art Basel Hong Kong in March. Discuss Yoshitomo Nara here.

Streets: Invader (Bhutan)

Posted by sleepboy, February 8, 2018

Traveling recently to Bhutan, Invader continued his usual practice of getting up with his signature tiled mosaic pieces in the streets. While the French street artist leaving his mark in the Buddhist Kingdom seemed to be well-received by the the locals that he encountered, his choice of placement was not without controversy. Take a look at more photos below… Discuss Invader here.

Showing: Vhils – “Intrínseco” @ Galeria Vera Cortes

Posted by sleepboy, February 7, 2018

Currently in Lisbon, Alexandre Farto aka Vhils (interviewed) has a show on view at Galeria Vera Cortes entitled Intrínseco. Continuing his use of unconventional materials and mark-making techniques, the Portuguese artist has prepared eight pieces of work consisting of suspended transparent PVC sheets featuring portraits and visual elements from locales around the world where he has traveled. He further states – “Intrínseco is a reflection on our surface. That which is opaque and that which is transparent. What allows us to see and what allows us to absorb […]

POW! WOW! Hawaii ’18 / Previews: “Exploring The New Contemporary Movement” @ Honolulu Museum of Art School

Posted by sleepboy, February 7, 2018

With this year’s POW! WOW! Hawaii fast approaching, it’s time to preview the annual associated Exploring The New Contemporary Movement group exhibition (see 2017 & 2016 & 2015 & 2014) curated by Thinkspace. The fifth iteration of the group exhibition will open on February 11th and will once again be held at the Honolulu Museum of Art School, featuring a larger 24″ x 24″ format. Participants for 2018 include Adam Caldwell, Alex Yanes, Alvaro Naddeo, Andrew Schoultz, Anthony Ausgang, Anthony Clarkson, Bezt, Bordalo II, Brooks Salzwedel, Carl Cashman, Casey Weldon, Christopher Konecki, Craig ‘Skibs’ Barker , […]

Recap: Matzu // Tomokazu Matsuyama – “Afternoon Delight” @ Arsham Fieg Gallery

Posted by sleepboy, February 6, 2018

Recently in New York, a new showing from Tomokazu Matsuyama (interviewed) finished its run at Arsham Fieg Gallery entitled Afternoon Delight. Displayed in the concept space on the second floor of KITH’s new flagship store, the new body of work featured the New York artist’s vibrant and colorful paintings as well as a sculptural piece that sees influence and techniques from both from his Japanese roots and American cultural upbringing. This particular exhibition looked to include more provocative themes and was “an exploration of how different social and cultural changes […]

Upcoming: Mattin Wittfooth – “Katabasis” @ Corey Helford Gallery

Posted by sleepboy, February 6, 2018

Here’s some really advance notice of a new solo show from Martin Wittfooth (interviewed) coming in October at Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles. As you can see from this in-progress photo of a new 85″ x 105″ piece entitled Conquest, there are some epic things planned for the new body of work collectively entitled Katabasis. He states “this series will feature the largest and most ambitious paintings of my career to date.” Discuss Martin Wittfooth here.

Releases: Jen Stark x Las Jaras Wines

Posted by sleepboy, February 6, 2018

For those who like to collect their own stash of bottles featuring the artwork of their favorite artists, Jen Stark has just released a design she collaborated with Las Jaras Wines on. Emblazoned on the side of the Napa Valley vineyard’s 2016 Pétillant Naturel Sparkling Rosé is one of the artist’s signature psychedelic patterns on a holographic label. Reasonably priced at $42, head over here if you are interested in purchasing it. Discuss Jen Stark here.