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Tag Archives: Los Angeles

Openings: Tara McPherson – “Supernova” @ Merry Karnowsky

Last weekend, the opening of Supernova at Merry Karnowsky Gallery by Tara McPherson reminded her fans in Los Angeles of some of the reasons they love her work. Working in warm blues and reds, her female characters are rendered flatly with crisp lines, yet with an urgent vibrancy as the New York-based artist and gallery owner plays with familiar heart and water motifs. Take a look at more photos below… Discuss this show here. Discuss Tara McPherson here.

Upcoming: Mark Dean Veca @ Western Project

On October 18, Western Project in Los Angeles will be welcoming back (see 2010) local artist Mark Dean Veca (interviewed) for a showing of his new works. Rendered with his distinctive “Toile de Jouy” like patterns, iconic characters from pop culture take on a fresh new form and meaning as he oftentimes twists familiar imagery for social commentary. For now, enjoy this newest piece featuring Veca’s version of the well-loved animated character – Taz. Discuss Mark Dean Veca here.

Openings: Audrey Kawasaki – “Hirari Hirari” @ Merry Karnowsky Gallery

Working with an expanded palette and new provocative imagery, Audrey Kawasaki (interviewed) gave her fans what they wanted and more with her new solo show. Entitled Hirari Hirari, the sold out exhibition held at Merry Karnowsky Gallery, took the locally-based painter’s portraiture up a notch with her flawless feminine forms. Embellished with elaborate flora and fauna, the new body of work was full of vibrant hues and had people lining up to get into the packed space till the end of the night. Discuss this […]

Streets: Greg “Craola” Simkins (Los Angeles)

It doesn’t happen often that Greg “Craola” Simkins (featured) grabs a spray can, but when he does, he usually creates something exceptional. After not painting walls for quite some time, his newest mural, which he recently finished in Los Angeles, is definitely an example of that. With support from Branded Arts and Graphaids, the LA-based artist took some time off his studio work and upcoming animated I’m Scared: The Movie, in order to create this fantastic piece. Completely figurative, with no letters or other “classic” graffiti elements, the piece […]

Previews: Audrey Kawasaki – “Hirari Hirari” @ Merry Karnowsky Gallery

This Saturday night (August 2nd), Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles will be presenting new works from Audrey Kawasaki (interviewed) entitled Hirari Hirari. Fans of the locally-based painter will be sure to pack the house (make sure you RSVP – [email protected]) to get a closer look at her provocative and stunning portraiture, rendered so seamlessly on wood that the grain looks to have become part of the imagery. Like three years ago, she will be opening her show (covered) alongside two other artists in the spacious gallery […]

Streets: Jeff Soto (Los Angeles)

Last week, Riverside native Jeff Soto (interviewed) headed to Los Angeles to paint a mural (invited by Juxtapoz) for Converse and their Wall to Wall program. Set in South Central L.A. on Slauson Avenue where some of his ancestors originally settled, Soto decided to do something as a tribute to them. Working on the piece over the course of two days, he decided to go with one of his familiar owl motifs. He states: “The Owl is a symbol of age and experience, a matriarch or patriarch of the […]

Shepard Fairey x Hennessy – VS Cognac Bottle Launch (Los Angeles)

A little over a week ago, Hennessy held the Los Angeles launch of their latest artist created V.S Limited Edition bottle at the Create nightclub. Created by Shepard Fairey (featured), the new version featuring his distinctive OBEY imagery joined the line of previous collaborations with Futura (covered) & KAWS (covered), and Os Gemeos (covered). Shep also took his turn on the 1’s and 2’s as DJ Diabetic along with DJ D-Nice and a performance from Kendrick Lamar. Discuss Shepard Fairey here. Photo credit: KirillWasHere & The Hundreds.

Previews: Joram Roukes – “Paramnesia” @ Thinkspace

After including his works in their group shows around the globe, Thinkspace Gallery is pleased to present new works by Dutch artist Joram Roukes in a solo entitled Paramnesia. Opening on July 19th, this show will introduce a whole new body of work created while residing and working in Los Angeles over the past six months. His chaotic and surrealist works are a complex mixture of different influences, elements and emotions. The collage-like painting style he uses allows him to combine and blend together different styles, from photorealistic […]

Streets: Shepard Fairey For The Line Hotel (Los Angeles)

AM recently had the pleasure of staying at The Line Hotel in Los Angeles, a project put together by the good people behind the Ace Hotel among others. Along with the work of D*Face gracing the west side of the property, the locally-based Shepard Fairey (featured) was asked to create a large mural overlooking the main entrance of the hotel. Completed over the course of several days, the “Peace Tree” will now be seen as a prominent part of the Wilshire corridor as drivers head west through […]

Showing: Kenichi Yokono – “The New Suburbs” @ Mark Moore Gallery

Currently at the Mark Moore Gallery in Los Angeles, Japanese artist Kenichi Yokono has a show on view entitled The New Suburbs. The new collection of painted wood carvings are a continuation of what he presented with the same gallery back in 2011 (covered), and are fine examples of Yokono’s modern take on traditional woodcutting. Sourcing the grotesque and mundane from his native country’s culture, the intricate pieces deal with “notions of globalization and consumerism with the overwhelming cuteness (or kawaii) found in popular Japanese […]