Low Brow & Pop Surrealism « Arrested Motion

Tag Archives: Low Brow & Pop Surrealism

Preview: Sarah Joncas – “Taking Over” @ Last Rites

Posted by sleepboy, November 29, 2012

We last caught up with Sarah Joncas (interviewed) and her work during her show in June (covered) at the Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles. On December 8th, New Yorkers will have the same opportunity to meet the Toronto-based artist and see her paintings in person when Taking Over opens at Last Rites Gallery. The fifteen new pieces that she has been working on for almost half a year will embrace the darker side of life with themes of death, loss of control, and becoming compromised explored. Discuss Sarah Joncas here.

Openings: Shannon Bonatakis – “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep” @ Rivet Gallery

Posted by Manuel Bello, November 26, 2012

Shannon Bonatakis is a painter living among the blissful fairy-tale forests of Denver, Colorado. When she is not climbing her favorite tree she is spending her days juggling various illustration projects, and her nights huddled over wet canvas (most likely painting by candle-light). Having been acquainted with Shannon’s brush work for many years now, we can comfortably say without question, this girl puts painstaking hours into refining each piece she pushes out. Her solo show, titled Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep is up at Rivet Gallery and […]

Openings: Nathan Ota – “Pop! Goes the Weasel” @ La Luz de Jesus

Posted by sleepboy, November 26, 2012

Earlier this month, AM paid a visit to La Luz de Jesus to check out the opening of Pop! Goes the Weasel, Nathan Ota’s new show in Los Angeles. The well attended event featured whimsical paintings from the LA-based artist full of imagery that appear often in his work such as birds, tree creatures, vibrant colors, and lettering proclaiming his graffiti roots. Stop by before the exhibition closes on December 2nd if you want to see it in person. Discuss Nathan Ota here.

Studio Visit: Brian Viveros – “War of the Roses” @ SCOPE / Thinkspace

Posted by sleepboy, November 26, 2012

With Basel Week Miami mere days away, it’s time to start giving you an idea of what to expect from this year’s event. We recently stopped by the studio of Brian Viveros to check out some of the paintings he will be shipping to the SCOPE Fair that will be displayed at the Thinkspace booth. War of the Roses will feature much of the imagery that fans of Viveros’ work have come to appreciate – strong female characters, reference to Spanish culture, tobacco, military themes, […]

Overtime: Nov 19 – Nov 25

Posted by Khoi, November 25, 2012

Overtime stories of the week: Phlegm working through possible covers for his new book. RIP: Arnaud Maggs, who died at the age of 86. Congratulations: Julian Schnabel and The Hole’s May Andersen get engaged. An insightful look at the market for Damien Hirst works and how he may have damaged it with his actions. Sotheby’s posted a pre-tax loss of $46.4m, representing a 58% fall in net profits for first nine months of year. Per ArtTactic, confidence in the Chinese contemporary art market declines as […]

Upcoming: Joe Sorren – “Everything’s Alright Sweetie, Please Get Some Sleep” @ Jonathan LeVine

Posted by sleepboy, November 23, 2012

It’s been over half a year (La Luz de Jesus) since we saw a solo show from gifted painter Joe Sorren (featured). Come the first of December, Sorren will be opening a show in his newly adopted home city of New York at the Jonathan LeVine Gallery. Everything’s Alright Sweetie, Please Get Some Sleep will feature the ethereal paintings of one of the singular talents in the movement so please make it out for the opening if you are in the area – you won’t regret it. […]

Openings: AJ Fosik – “Lamplighter to the Promised Land” @ Guerrero Gallery

Posted by rhinomilk, November 20, 2012

Last weekend, AM stopped by San Francisco’s Guerrero Gallery to check out opening of Lamplighter to the Promised Land that features AJ Fosik’s latest wooden sculptures. We visited Fosik a few weeks back at his Portland studio while he was preparing for the show (which can be viewed here). With this exhibition, he created sculptures to portray creatures in a glorified manner that challenges the concept of belief as a virtue – in other words, they are trippy/bad-ass beasts. Check out more photos from the […]

Openings: Ron English – “Crucial Fiction” @ Opera Gallery (New York)

Posted by juggernut3, November 19, 2012

The master of “Popaganda” has been a busy man lately. After an epic four story mural in Manhattan, Ron English (featured) unveiled a fresh body of works at New York’s Opera Gallery entitled Crucial Fiction. This new series took a shot at the commercialization of our pop culture and it was great to see Ron working his incredible mix of wit and painting technique as no topic was held sacred. From Captain Crunch & Mickey Mouse to the Rolling Stones & The Incredible Hulk, Mr. English had ideas of […]

Doktor A – “Postcard from New Yorkshire” @ MPH

Posted by sleepboy, November 18, 2012

From his beginnings as one of the most highly sought after art toy customizers out there, the UK-based Doktor A has progressed to producing his own sculptural creations, which was only natural if anyone has ever seen his work. For his recent showing in New York at My Plastic Heart, entitled Postcard from New Yorkshire, his full talents were on display with figures created in his robotic steampunk aesthetic with a fine attention to detail. More photos below… Discuss Doktor A here.

Showing: “Crucible” @ Mirus Gallery

Posted by Khoi, November 18, 2012

Mirus Gallery, an exhibition space in downtown San Francisco founded and established by art collector/entrepreneur Paul Hemming, opens with a group show consisting of collaborative and individually created works by a dynamic collection of artists (that are also long-time friends), including Damon Soule, David Choong Lee, Mars-1, NoMe Edonna, and Oliver Vernon. The kinetic works in the exhibition burst with energy and sharp colors and represent the fine technical skill and expressive cosmic imagination of each artist. Check out some of the pieces in the […]