Author: Stephanie Keller

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.
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Robbo Showing at Pure Evil Gallery

Usually, I love the shows that Pure Evil hosts. With a keen eye for fellow artistic talent, Pure Evil has put on some amazing solo shows with the likes of ROA, Dran and Specter, just to name a few. This time around though, I am a little disappointed to hear that Robbo is the latest artist to invade the gallery. You can think what you want, but in my blunt opinion, I think this atrocious to back an artist who has remade a name for himself late in his career because of a beef with another artist. I am, however, surprised it has taken this long for him to capitalize on his rejuvenated fame since the “War on Banksy” began. No doubt, there will be some pieces that make fun of the stencil artist, but I think this would be a good time for Robbo to step away from the controversy and show his own talent in a gallery, especially one that is so well respected in the street art community. If he does, I will eat my words. But his current actions in London, hyping the show, beg the differ as he and his cronies continue to bomb over Banksy pieces and make digs at him. For someone who has issues with an artist selling out and getting too big for his britches, I think the pot is calling the kettle black.

The show’s preview will take place tomorrow, September 30, at Pure Evil Gallery on Great Eastern Street. Stop by and let me know how it goes down since I am in Liverpool for the Biennial this week.

Top Cat at the Canal in Camden
More from The Canal

Photos courtesy of Robbo, Nolionsinengland, and Pure Evil

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Anthony Lister Gets Up In NYC

Let me start off by saying I love Anthony Lister. I think his painting style is not only so individually stylized, but his figurative portraiture epitomizes a raw talent that a lot of street artists have yet to to pull off. His street art truly looks like fine art on art theatrically painted on city buildings. The Australian artist’s latest piece pops up in New York City and looks incredible.

Photo by Luna Park

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The Art Street Journal Vol.2 Issue 2 Launch Party Tonight

Our own lovely, Elisa Carmichael, is hosting the launch of the latest issue of The Art Street Journal tonight at Carmichael Gallery. Featuring interviews with Mark Jenkins, Rae McGrath, Angelo Milano, Martyn Reed, Jacob Samuel, Marc and Sara Schiller, Stefan Simchowitz and Sonja Teri, this is definitely an issue not to miss. Plus, as always, it’s free, so no excuses guys.

If you are in LA tonight, stop by the gallery in Culver City from 6-8pm to pick up your free copy and have a drink or two. Oh, and be nice to the lovely Elisa who has been feeling under the weather for days.

Carmichael Gallery
5795 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232


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Faile Book Launch

Last week, RJ  posted about the new Faile book, Faile: Prints and Originals 1999-2009. This past Thursday, The Outsiders at Lazarides Shop hosted the book’s launch at London. Within the first fifteen minutes, each of the 100 signed books sold, and by the end of the night, the book sold out to the que of art lovers that stood waiting to buy or pick up their pre-ordered copy. The Shop turned into a Faile world as the walls showcased pieces on sale from the collective early years to the present. I still think the best was the Sailor Jerry cocktails. Any opening with a decent mix drink is fine by me.

All Photos by Steph Keller



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Buff Monster: Child’s Play at Best

I meant to write about this show weeks ago, but I kept debating whether to stay true to my snarky self and write what I really think about Buff Monster’s latest solo show at Corey Helford Gallery. Finally, and by my peers’ encouragement, I sad “screw it” and am just going to be honest. The work is terrible. Not to hate on cute cartoon art because some artists do it pretty well at times, but Buff Monster’s one dimensional childish monsters remind me of scratch and sniff stickers or the sadistic product of Lisa Frank and Hello Kitty. On the streets, the characters look cutesy, colorful and fun, but within gallery walls they translate as shallow and not genuine.

The following pictures are several works featured in the current show. Inspired by what looks like complete anarchy in Candy Land, an emo Spongebob on hallucinogenic drugs, and a futuristic mythical anime world, the pieces display little design concept and thought. The whole show further saddens me about the art world, since many outlets praised the works with no critical eye. Those reviews are fluff, just like Buff Monster’s art.

Ultimately, in my opinion, Corey Helford made a huge mistake with this show. After forging a name internationally for their curatorial work in collaboration with the Bristol Museum with Art from the New World (one of the best urban art group shows to date), this show confuses me as to why they would plan and host such an atrocity. As a gallery well known for marketing and branding of their artists and exhibits, Buff Monster seems like the perfect choice for just that, since all he stands on is those aspects.

There is a major debate raging in the art world whether street art can translate inside gallery walls, but Buff Monster’s show gives another point to the doubters. Maybe if there was an installation, sculptures, or even a giant mountain of his plush toy in the gallery, I may not be so harsh. But Buff Monster’s work is so commercial that it has to be branded as such, because fine art surely is not it. Maybe, next time Buff.

Pink Wunderland
Split Kit
Happy Solitude

Pictures Courtesy of Corey Helford Gallery

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Ron English Pop Up Factory at Opera Gallery

I know this post may be a little late, since the show opened the 11th, but Vandalog was given some great photos of Ron English’s prep work for the pieces exhibited. Taking place at The Opera Gallery in New York City currently, the site hosts a rare exhibition of new and old favorites of English (and yes, his Ronald McDonald makes multiple appearances. Thank God for that). Known for hosting a fellow pop “artist’s” solo exhibition a little while back (please do not make me say his name. I actually begin to taste vomit in my mouth when I think of that sad excuse of an “artist”), Opera decided to take it up a notch and put on a real show this time around pulling out all the stops for English. Paying homage to Keith Haring’s cultural commodity store (or maybe even just a simple play on the “pop” word), The Pop Up Shop, the show is sure to be an incredible display of creative talent. Most street artists experience that harsh epiphany when they realize that that most of their work refuses to translate into the white cube, but English surpasses the dilemma with his sarcastic, and sometimes sadistic, play on popular culture. Exhibiting works in several mediums- painting, mixed media and sculpture, the Status Factory is sure to be a widely talked spectacle of the fall art season.

Below are some of the works included in the show. You can see pictures of most of the works here.

Photos courtesy of Opera Gallery

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Shepard Fairey Prints at Subliminal

As a harsh critic of Shepard Fairey, I feel a bit hypocritical posting about this show, but I really feel like it deserves some attention. Printed Matters is the name of Fairey’s latest show taking place at Subliminal Projects in Los Angeles. What interests me most about this exhibition is the fact that it is a show purely compiled of Fairey’s prints. With the increase in popularity of street art books (incidentally Fairey will be signing copies of Beyond the Street Art at the opening reception), the hit the economy has incurred in the past year and the launch of Christie’s Multiplied Art Fair, prints are becoming an essential component of mainstream commercial art work. Usually working with the themes of repetition, borrowed images and urban cultures, Fairey’s prints remind the viewer of classic dated typography and muted design, while still managing to fuse Dada-esque collage in his work. Hopefully, Printed Matters will finally show some new work by Shepard Fairey that breathes some life back into the stale overused pieces that have been pooping up in group shows and outdoor murals this past year. Give me something to be positive about, please. It is pathetic when the nicest words I have for an artist’s work coincide with the launch of a vinyl toy (which was indeed pretty awesome to say the least.)

Photo courtesy of Subliminal Projects

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Trouble: A Solo Exhibition with Aaron Rose at Circle Culture

On September 9, the famed contemporary curator and artist, Aaron Rose, will unveil his latest solo exhibition at CircleCulture Gallery in Berlin. Best known for his international launch of graffiti and street art into the mainstream conscious with the touring show Beautiful Losers and the documentary by the same name, Rose premieres Trouble as an homage to the readymades made famous by art pioneers like Marcel Duchamp. Rose uses mostly found suitcases form the 50’s and 60’s as the base of his colorful artworks, but also incorporates chairs, guitars, and lamps as mediums. While this show may be a far cry from his championing of early Shepard Fairey and Barry McGee, it proves an exhibit does not need to be groundbreaking to be thought provoking and interesting to view. Beauty and talent are sometimes enough, as long as there is depth to the work. There is nothing wrong with concentrating on pure aesthetics.

The opening reception will take place September 9 and will run until September 25.

Photos courtesy of Circle Culture

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Poster Boy Does London

After the international book launch of Poster Boy’s The War of Art in NYC, LA, and London last weekend, one of the members of the collective got up in London and put up a few pieces that veer away from the NY based artist’s usual work. The Mary Poppins, and Nick Walker tribute, is right below the Banksy car on Brick Lane which a found the day after it was posted, and the second is on the corner of Whiston and Kingswood roads. in the Leake Street Tunnel. More photos can be seen at No Lions in England.

Photos by Steph Keller and No Lions in England

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True Colors

There is something about media art that I just love. Maybe it’s my passion for film, but still, stop motion works are fascinating to me. The intense labor and meticulous placement to achieve desired effect is truly a work of art. The latest stop motion piece from Quintessenz Creation took 4 months to make, includes over 5,000 photographs, and is all handmade color abstractions without any digital effects. As much as I hate abstract minimalism, this creative piece blows me away with the use of such a diverse and exact color palette.

Courtesy of QuintessenzCreation