Stephanie is a recent graduate of the George Washington University where she studied journalism and communication and the Sotheby's Institute of Art in London where she earned her Master's Degree in Contemporary Arts. Hailing from the Jersey shore (unfortunately), Stephanie became introduced to street art while studying abroad in London in late 2009. Abandoning her career path in music pr and management, she began to delve into the world of urban art and began reading as many contemporary art books she could get her hands on before graduation. When she does manage to pull her nose out of art books, Stephanie likes to bike, watch old Hitchcock films, and cook a mean mushroom risotto. Some of her favorite artists include Miss Van, Keith Haring, Luke Chueh, Yoshitomo Nara and David LaChapelle.
Currently, a photo exhibition entitled Outsiders is a conceptual mixed media art show going on right now at the Centre Culturel Colombier in Rennes, France. The exhibit explores the works of different artists who bring in the materials of their works as the art itself, along with the photograph or video of the work as an installation. I think it is a really daring concept, especially one that many people would not necessarily understand right away. Here are some examples from David Renault who is one of the standout artists of the show.
Murky Swamp »Empty Sign par David Renault
Outrage en drapeau par David Renault
Action / vidéo / installation
Vandalog was sent over some pretty cool videos hyping the new Underdog show in Lisbon, Portugal opening Friday. Featuring primarily Portuguese artists, the goal of the project is to raise awareness of street art in Portugal.
Leading the show is the young whirlwind artist, Vhils, who created this trailer for the show in conjunction with Orelha Negra.
Another street artist’s first solo show is approaching as well. Veng, associated with Robots Will Kill, will premiere new studio works at the Pandemic Gallery in Brooklyn on December 17th. The show, Identifiable Reality, will feature new oil on wood canvasses by the artist. What I really enjoy about his work is not just the subtle outdoor aesthetic conveyed in the work above, but the strong figurative associations with surrealism and modernist European paintings. It is refreshing to see street artists have different styles, especially when they translate their work into gallery and museum spaces.
Many of Blu’s time lapse videos, mural paintings and short animations will be combined into a feature length film called Blu 2010. As much as I like the idea of something like this, I don’t really understand the reasoning behind it since Blu’s work is all viral (and free) anyway. I’m sure some of the never before seen footage may be cool, but I think it is a bit of an easy way to cash in. To be fair though, I have watched his work multiple times and do enjoy it, so I don’t think the concept is a completely terrible idea. I just have mixed feelings about the whole thing…
For your enjoyment, however, are two of my favorite videos by Blu. The first is “Big Bang Big Boom” which attempts to trace the evolution of the world. The second is Blu’s collaboration with David Ellis at 2009’s Fame Festival in Italy, entitled “Combo.”
On December 4, the Warrington Museum in Chesire will host Elbow-Toe’s first solo show in the UK, entitled Due Date. A breath of fresh air in the art world, the New York based artist has been gaining attention with his colorful and witty “paper paintings” as the artist calls them. These pictures don’t even do them justice; Elbow-toe’s work really needs to be seen in person to fully comprehend the labor and creativity in his methods. This particular show is not just Elbow-toe’s paintings, but also works on paper. Both act as strong contrasts to one other and should play off each other well in the final set-up.
The show’s theme is based around the concept of parenthood and the ideas and preconceived notions that comes with it in today’s world. The works act as stories that stem from the artist’s own life experiences as well as what he believes others think of being a parent.
In a statement by the artist he states that “In these paintings I am addressing fears (loss of individuation as well as of the proverbial unknown), the strengthening of bonds in times of crisis, the issues of trying to become a parent later in life and the wisdom gained through the process of parenting.”
Sweet Dreams
For more information on the show visit Elbow-toe’s website and his flickr to see more images from the upcoming show.
Yesterday, Pictures on Walls (yeah, they are dominating the site this week. Sorry about that…) released two new prints by artists Anthony Micallef and Mark Sinckler. Micallef’s (above) is a beautiful black and white piece entitled “A Small Print of What I Think Love Looks Like.” The other is Sinkler’s quite controversial piece entitled “Age of Shiva.” The Renaissance-stylized work addressing the 7/7 bombings in London has become quite talked about since its release. It is also featured in the main window of the Pictures and Walls show “Marks & Stencils” going on right now in Soho. Personally, I don’t find the piece that shocking, but it is more the timing of its release with the recent inquests occurring that is upsetting people. It also cannot help that the title is not exactly the most politically correct choice by the artist, but of course that is the point. I do enjoy the fact that it isn’t just another pretty picture, but speaks to viewers in some way, positive or negative. It provokes more than just the reaction of whether the piece is “good or bad.”
Both prints are editions of 100. Micallef’s is available for 450 pounds. Sinckler’s is 150 pounds. Both can be purchased (if they haven’t sold out yet) at POW or Marks & Stencils.
December 2nd will see the opening reception of Stolenspace’s latest winter exhibition, Never Judge…? The show’s theme centers around artists’ recreation of classic Penguin book covers in their own aesthetic. Seeing the preview, the bulk of the work looks fantastic, but with some of the pieces I don’t know what the book actually is or which artist it is by.
Anthony Lister
The show must have been in the works for awhile because the artist list is HUGE and looks fantastic.
The artists include: Alex Fakso, Alexander Korzer Robinson, Alexone, Alex Trochut, All City Media, Anders Nilsen, Andrew Council, Angela Lizon, Anthony Burril, Anthony Lister, Arth Daniels, Blek Le Rat, Brad Downey, Brian Cairns, Buff Monster, C215, Chris Stain, Chistopher Silas Neal, CUM, Cyclops, DEM, D*FACE, David Bray, David Gentleman, Dave Kinsey, David Walker, Dominique Holmes, Eelus, EINE, Elsa Mora, EMA, Evan Hecox, Faris Badwan, Filthy Luker, Gabriel Dubois, Gary Taxali, Gerald Laing, Graham Dolphin, gray318, Hanna Melin, Hellovon, Ian Stevenson, James Alexander Burbidge, Jaybo, Jeff Antebi, Jeff Fisher, Jim Houser, Jonathan Darby, Jon Burgerman, John Pound, John Slade, Julie Verhoeven, Hanna Melin, Kai & Sunny, Kate Gibb, Kathryn Macnaughton, Kid Acne, Kristian Hammerstad, KRSN, Mark Dean Veca, Mark Herald, Marta Cerda, Matt Eco, Matt Small, Methane Studios, Michael De Feo, Mike Stilkey, Mr Jago, Mysterious Al, Mudwig, Parra, Pete Fowler, Rico, Ripo, ROA, Ronzo, Roxanne Jackson, Rul/Vomitorium, Russell Maurice, Russ Mills, Ryan Bubnis, Sam Flores, SAN, Shepard Fairey, Sickboy, Skull Phone, Steff Plaetz, Sylvia Ji, Tara McPherson, The London Police, Tim Bessell, Tom J Newell, Toshikazu Nozaka, Tristan Eaton, Usugrow, Viktor Vauthier, Vinnie Nylon, Will Barras, WK Interact, Word To Mother, Zosen…
Last night, Pictures on Walls opened their holiday show, Marks & Stencils, starring Banksy and Dran. For those of you who read Vandalog daily, you know that I am a MASSIVE Dran fan. When I first lived in London two years ago, I interned for Pure Evil Gallery and the first show I worked on was Je t’aime, an exhibit featuring members of the DMV crew. When I first saw Dran’s work then, I could see this guy was going to be a big deal, and judging by the likes of last night’s crowd- I was right.
In true, POW style, the pop-up exhibit took out all the stops. The space on the Berwick Street in Soho was completely transformed to exhibit as much work as possible. One of the issues that a lot of people debate now is how to exhibit street art on white walls and whether the meaning of the work changes or if it is even street art anymore, albeit done by “street artists.” POW somehow found a solution, albeit temporary, to this raging debate by making the space look like a messy artist’s studio fused with the outdoor components like traffic cones, gray cracked walls and exposed brick.
The space is broken in two levels, with the top styled more like a thrown together group show and the bottom floor transformed into My Everyday Life, a solo show of Dran’s work. The theme the exhibit is Scribouille (featured above) a character of Dran’s imagination who constantly makes art all of the time. The idea was taken literally with areas created to show a workshop, artist’s table and tools, a shopping cart full of cardboard (a material of choice for Dran) and the creation of one of my favorite works by Dran- a cardboard box opened up with eyes cut out and chalk drawings of child-like flowers. The walls were scattered with unframed canvases of Dran’s witty illustrative social commentary addressing everything from the British obsession with football and shortsighted scientists to men’s fascination with porn and a women’s need to control their partners. I laughed out loud most of the time, and I don’t think the absinthe being served was helping my uncontrollable laughter either.
On the end of the space, Dran uses cardboard boxes from around the world to explore socio-political notions relevant to each country. The series is not only innovative, but displays a tension between the light-hearted nature of the drawings and the heavy themes Dran is actually drawing upon. He just goes to show you that simplicity can pack the same thematic punch as heavy convoluted abstracts that attempt to comment on similar ideas.
Upstairs, the art work includes more pieces from Dran, as well as Zevs, Sickboy and of course, Banksy. All grouped together, it was difficult at times to guess which work was by which artist which was annoying at times, but the free show catalog was pretty good about explaining what was what. Sorry guys, I’m not RJ. I don’t know everything that was there. Actually though, if someone know who the Scrabble “Snuff Film” piece was by, drop me a line. It was underneath a ZEVS but I have no idea if it was his. I would assume though.
Anyways, POW put on a great display of graffiti/art that they cited as the work of “drunks and idiots.” All pictures in ornate frames, the photographs are were a clever way to show off work that have not really been seen, but are definitely a crowd favorite.
And of course, to talk about Banksy’s work in the show… Well for starters, there was not that much of it. I was a bit disappointed in the fact that what was displayed were an array of pieces that have similar brethren in an outdoor capacity (like the door, 3D rat or the “Boring” works). What I found more interesting, however, is the close artistic relationship that has seemed to form between Dran and Bansky. I couldn’t peel my eyes off of Dran’s “Mona Lisa” because of how much it resembles Bansky’s painting attack works from a few years ago. I am not saying they are similar styles, their aesthetics are as different as can be, but their mainstream simplistic way of conveying their own social commentary are extremely similar. They both use ideas of art history, children, apes, war and starvation in their pieces as symbols of current situations. It makes me wonder if Dran is just incredibly inspired by Bansky, or if Banksy is actually mentoring the young French artist. One day, hopefully there will be an outdoor collaboration of their work, but seeing two of my favorite artists of today showing side by side is enough for me right now.
Also, for all you Banksy fans who cannot get enough of the show’s curator, the artist’s new print is shown below. Taken from his recent outdoor homage to Keith haring, the print will be on sale in December through Pictures on Walls. “Choose Your Weapon” is a five colour screen print priced at 450 pounds.
All photos by Steph Keller. See the full set on flickr
As a student at Sotheby’s, I know how much flack I get for looking at art in terms of how it’s worth. But I’m learning through the eyes of the art market, so it’s a different perspective than RJ has or Elisa does. So of course I am going to post about auctions.
An interesting one coming up is Phillips de Pury’s 8o’s auction including original pieces, print editions, photographs and designs.
The auction begins in New York on on December 17 at 2 pm.
There are a lot of big names, especially from the street art genre, such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Here are some of the highlights and their estimates that I found interesting from the catalog.
Basquiat’s: Untitled (Standing Figure), 1981 estimated at $150,000 – $250,000 is a figurative drawing on paper
Kenny Scharf: Untitled (Head), 1987 is estimated at $50,000 to $70,000 and is a sculptural cartoon-like head
Keith Haring: Untitled, 1989 is estimated at $10,000 – $15,000 and is a typical Haring drawing that is featured on the cover of the catalouge
Annie Leibovitz’s iconic portrait of Keith Haring painted in the vein of his work blending into the wall is estimated between $8,000- 12,000
I have to say that I really appreciate galleries that continue to do shows during the Holiday season. While most just shut down because “everyone else does” I find it admirable when a curator puts together a show, and a decent group show at that.
Martha Cooper Happy Holidays
Opening December 11 at Subliminal Projects is Wreck the Walls, a group exhibition of over 30 artists combining rebellious urban artists, street pioneers and young emerging fine artists.
The show includes the likes of some heavy hitters like McGinnes and Cooper and some of my favorite new names like Greg LeMarche and Kelly Berg. The full list includes: Alan Shaffer, Alejandro Gehry, Andy Moses, Bertil Petersson, Billy Al Bengston, Blek Le Rat, Craig Stecyk, Curtis Kulig, David Ellis, David Yow, Ed Moses, Ellwood T. Risk, Erik Foss, Eric Schwartz, Eric White, Evan Hecox, Greg Lamarche, Jason Alper, John Van Hamersveld, Laddie John Dill, Larry Bell, Martha Cooper, Monica Canilao, Retna, Robbie Conal, Ryan McGinness, Ryan Travis Christian, Skullphone, Swoon, Tim Biskup, Vanessa Prager, Kelly Berg.
