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Tag Archives: Street & Urban Art

Showing: RETNA x SF Opera – “Aida”

After working with the Legion of Honor on an Egyptian exhibition (covered), RETNA’s (featured) recently took the role of the artistic designer for another Bay Area institution, the SF Opera. Again like with the exhibition, the choice of the infamous Los Angeles graffiti writer’s imagery as the backdrop was a bold but interesting decision as his script takes influence from hieroglyphics which matches up well with the current production of Aida, Verdi’s famous opera set in Egypt. Take a look at the stunning visuals as well as video interview […]

Benefits / Releases: Nick Walker – “Bridges” / TMA Brooklyn @ Beyond Art

On November 15th, Nick Walker (interviewed) will bring back his signature The Morning After (TMA) series with a fresh new body of work to be unveiled in NYC. There will be five iconic paintings, each to pay homage to the legendary bridges that connect New York City. Working along with Billboard4 & Beyond Art Creative, the UK street artist has chosen TMA Brooklyn as the print release for this event. Those lucky enough to have recently visited New York may have already seen the image (above) on the streets near East Village (64 […]

Recap: MOMO @ Studiocromie

Following a mural painting trip through Italy (more on this later), MOMO concluded things with a solo exhibition at Studiocromie in Grottaglie. The new body of work on includes paintings on canvas, paper pieces, prints, and ceramics all demonstrating the American artist’s unique use of patterns, shapes, and colors, both seemingly random and purposeful at the same time. The sold out show apparently was on view for two days only but you can see more photos below on what was on display. Discuss MOMO here.

Showing: Jose Parla – “Instincts” @ The Goss-Michael Foundation

Heading into the final days (thru November 11th) at the The Goss-Michael Foundation is Instincts from Jose Parla, the inaugural exhibition at the new smaller and more focused space on Wycliff Ave in Dallas. The new site-specific pieces from the Cuban-American artist are richly textured, heavily influenced (as is his practice) by the gritty and decaying walls on the streets with layers and layers of calligraphic gestures. Utilizing intense colors and free flowing script, the paintings and sculptures speak to the Brooklyn-based artist’s “creative instinct,” the overarching theme of the new body of work. […]

Recap: Alëxone – ‘En Vie’ @ Secret Gallery

Alëxone recently presented a new body of work as part of a recent group exhibition entitled En Vie at the Secret Gallery in Paris also featuring Julien Colombier, Sebastien Preschoux, Vincent Abadie Hafez, Mambo and Mr Jago. Liberté is a core principle of both Alëxone’s native France and his new work. In his paintings, this freedom is often joyously creative but at times tips over to also become unsettlingly menacing. The work provides a mirror on the world as viewed through the artist’s eyes; surrealist penguins, elephants and […]

Streets: Fanakapan // Halloween Pumpkin Heads (London)

With Halloween in mind, Fanakapan put his special style to work creating some pumpkin head murals on the streets of London. The first piece (seen above) was a solo endeavor that once again highlights the UK-based artist’s balloon animal technique with a creepy jack-o’-lantern. The second wall painted was a collaboration with AliHamish Campbell & Tom Blackford at Mile End Skate Park with a pumpkin-head skeleton as his contribution. Photo credit: Street Art Atlas & @annahitahessami.

POW! WOW! Japan ’16: Recap

In the middle of this month, POW! WOW! Japan invited in a roster of artists including Persue, Push (seen above), Sam Rodriguez, Cinta Vidal, John “Prime” Hina, Kami and Sasu of Hitotzuki, Ryuichi Ogino, Jun Inoue and Kensuke Takahashi to Kobe, Japan to create murals on Rokko Island. The event was a followup to last year’s inaugural gathering in Tokyo and despite the new location, the same philosophy of a multi-pronged approach – art, music, talks, education was used including workshops by the artists for children at the Canadian Academy from grades one to […]

Overtime: Oct 24 – Oct 30

More stories from the week that ended Oct 30 (click on bolded words for more information): Artspace profiles Nathan Cash Davidson, Torey Thornton, and Avery Singer. (above: Torey Thornton’s Rapport Vroom show at Shane Campbell Gallery). Frieze reviews Jamian Juliano-Villani’s The World’s Greatest Planet on Earth at Studio Voltaire. RIP: Raymond Brown, who passed away during scaffolding accident in Miami while painting a mural. RIP: Tom Doyle, who passed away on Oct 8. RIP: Marwan Kassab-Bachi, who passed away at the age of 82. RIP: Steve Dillon, who passed away […]

Streets: El Mac (Colorado)

Over the summer, El Mac spend some time on a commission mural at the Manitou Art Center, coincidentally also referred to as The MAC in Manitou Springs, Colorado. It was a collaboration (something he often does) with his friend FUSE, who painted some of the graffiti elements for this piece entitled Native Son (This Saint Floyd), a tribute to local artist local artist Floyd Tunson. You can read more about it here if you are interested. Discuss El Mac here.

Previews: 1010 – “Eversion” @ Hashimoto Contemporary

Following up on last year’s exhibition (covered) at Hashimoto Contemporary will be another solo from 1010 at the San Francisco gallery starting November 3rd. Eversion continues the Hamburg-based artist’s series of portals, echoing the large-scale works he paints on the streets. The pieces utilizing color theory and perspective are painted on layers of acrylic glass and mounted on aluminum dibond, a technique that augments the illusory effect. Discuss 1010 here.