Author: RJ Rushmore

RJ Rushmore has been involved in contemporary art as a writer, curator, photographer, arts administrator, and fan since 2008. With a focus on street art, graffiti, and public art, RJ facilitates and promotes catalytic and ambitious art outdoors, in galleries, and online. He founded the street art blog Vandalog and has worked at The L.I.S.A. Project NYC, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and Creative Time. Currently, RJ is Co-Curator of Art in Ad Places.
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Botulism: a Bäst solo show at Lazarides

There aren’t many artists with more street cred than Bäst. He’s been getting up consistently for about a decade now, and he’s not half bad at collage either. While I find his work most interesting on the street, but that doesn’t mean I hate to see him indoors from time to time. And it’s about time. On August 20th, his latest solo show will open at London’s Lazarides Rathbone Place. Botulism is going to be Bäst’s first solo show at Lazarides, but he exhibited there earlier this year with Faile for their Deluxx Fluxx Arcade. Lazarides promises that for this show, Bäst will be “developing past preoccupations in an exciting new direction.”

Here’s are a couple of teasers from Botulism:

Botulism runs from August 20th through October 1st with a private view on August 19th.

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The Lost Ones in Mexico City

The Lost Ones is a group show opening this week at Fifty24MX, Upper Playground’s Mexico City gallery. The show is being curated by New Image Art Gallery‘s Marsea Goldberg and features some great street artists like Retna, Shepard Fairey, Judith Supine and Neck Face.  The Lost Ones opens on Friday. I wonder of Arrested Motion will have photographers there, because I certainly don’t know anybody who will be there taking photos and I’d like to see this once it’s open.

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Freight train and a lithograph from Know Hope

Following in the tradition of street artists like Other, Labrona and Margaret Kilgallen, Know Hope recently drew on a few freight trains in Croatia. The above drawing is my favorite.

And Know Hope has also just released a new lithograph. “Humbled Memory Mumbles Melody” (image below) was produced at Edition Copenhagen, the same place that Barry McGee and Todd James recently produced some prints. Know Hope’s lithograph measures 56 x 76 cm, is an edition of 100 and is available for $280. To purchase “Humbled Memory Mumbles Melody,” just email raz.thisislimbo@gmail.com.

Photos by Know Hope

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Specter’s solo show at Pure Evil Gallery

Specter‘s show at Pure Evil Gallery opened a few days ago, and one thing’s for sure: the judges on Work of Art would hate Specter’s new work (sorry Jerry Saltz, but you don’t need to include somebody’s face in a portrait for it to be a portrait), but that may just be proof of how good it is. Almost all the paintings are portraits of artists who have influenced Specter, as represented by pieces of fabric and clothing.

While my favorite artworks from Specter are still his sculptures and readymades, these new paintings are definitely interesting. Perhaps most importantly, they show how much Specter is thinking outside the box that so many street artists become trapped in.

And since Specter is in London for this show, he’s also been getting up outside:

Specter’s show is on now at Pure Evil Gallery through August 24th.

Photos by artbleat, unusualimage and Specter

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Dozens of artists in Beacon, NY for Electric Windows

Last weekend, residents of Beacon, NY were treated to live painting by a couple of dozen artists, including some of street art’s finest. The artists were their for Electric Windows. Steph mentioned the event last month, but here’s the short version: artists paint panels which then go on display in the windows of a former electric blanket factory. An interesting idea, but I still think the best part of this event was the chance for members of the public to wait such talented artists work. Papermonster has over 100 photos from Electric Windows on his blog. Here are some of my favorite pieces from the event:

Papermonster
Elbow-toe
Gaia
Chris Stain, one of a few artists at the event who worked directly on walls
Ron English

Photos by Papermonster’s friend Ren, except Elbowt-toe’s piece which was photographed by the artist

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EVOL and Judith Supine at Jonathan LeVine

Somewhere in Kreuzberg by EVOL

Jonathan LeVine Gallery‘s annual summer group exhibition is on right now, and there are a few noteworthy pieces that I just had to share.

EVOL is one of the artists really pushing forward the use of multi-layered stencils, and he doesn’t get enough credit for it. His cityscapes on cardboard are something special. And, unlike a few other artists who depict the urban environment and attempt to achieve something nearing photo-realism with stencils, EVOL’s style doesn’t look like a ripoff of Logan Hicks.

Simple Solutions by EVOL

And then there are the new paintings by Judith Supine. Like his painting at Shred, these two paintings seem to have that glossier-than-a-sheet-of-glass look. Personally, I think it’s great. Other people don’t like it. But I’m pretty confident that the super-glossy look makes theses paintings look even better. As usual, Supine has made something beautiful, mesmerizing and disturbing.

The Lives of Lee Miller by Judith Supine
X-ray Eyes by Judith Supine

Jonathan LeVine Gallery’s summer group show runs through August 21st.

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VNA Issue 12 launches next week

Very Nearly Almost issue number 12 is launching next week at the Pure Evil Gallery in London. This issue of VNA features M-City, Buff Monster, Mr. Jago and more. Oh and then there’s the cover: Roa. I did the interview with Roa, but I think the most interesting part of that feature is going to be the photos. I haven’t seen the finished version yet, but it’s going to be something a bit different. I won’t spoil what makes that bird on the cover so unique, but you may be able to figure it out for yourself with some clever googling.

At the launch party, you’ll be able to buy a special edition of VNA with a screenprinted cover. Plus Mr. Jago will be there doing some painting. So make sure to stop by Pure Evil Gallery on Thursday the 12th from 6-9pm and let me know what you think.