In the upscale São Paulo district of Jardim Europa, perhaps the only São Paulo neighborhood whose walls are graffiti-free, the Museu Brasileiro da Escultura (MuBE) is presenting GRAFFITI FINE ART, an exhibit featuring the work of 20 street artists. Thanks to a tip from MUNDANO, we stopped by a few hours before the exhibit officially opened last night and liked what we saw. Curated by Binho Ribeiro, it continues through July 24th at Av. Europa, 218 in SP.
Vito, photo by Lois StavskyNadu, photo by Lois StavskyOpni, photo by Sara MozesonBinho, photo by Lois Stavsky
And we discovered the following mural outside MuBE. I later found out that it was created for the 1st International Biennial of Graffiti Fine Art that was held at MuBE in 2010. I took this shot from street level:
One of NYC’s most active train bombers in the late 70’s and early 80’s, Fred Brathwaite aka Fab 5 Freddy is probably best-known for his work as a film producer, director and co-host of Yo MTV Raps. He was also, as Jeffrey Deitch reminds us, one of the leading forces behind the movement that brought graffiti into galleries and helped link the distinct uptown and downtown cultures. With a painting on exhibit at MoCA’s Art in the Streets and a solo exhibit of recent work at Gallery 151 at 350 Bowery, this hip-hop pioneer is once again gaining recognition for his visual art. Last night I stopped by the gallery to check out “New York: New Work” that opened earlier in the month (and closes this Friday). There’s a range of mixed-media paintings on exhibit including images of boxers and exotic dancers. My favorite pieces, though, are those that celebrate the bold flavor and brash spirit of old school graffiti. Here are a few:
Photo by Lois StavskyPhoto by Lois Stavsky
Metro Movement, an allusion to the New York City subway car Fab 5 Freddy covered with Campbell’s soup cans in 1980, Image courtesy Gallery 151
Opening tonight from 6-9 at the Dorian Grey Gallery at 437 East 9th Street in NYC is the first solo exhibit of Ugly-Kid GUMO, a remarkable French graffiti artist. When I stopped by last night, I was awed by the range of work on exhibit – from collages crafted from found objects to text-infused murals — and the passion that it all exudes. Although the installation was still in progress, I had the chance to speak briefly to Ugly-Kid GUMO.
I love what you are doing. There is an elegant rawness to your work that I find both seductive and provocative. It seems that you want your viewers to think! Definitely. That is my main goal. I want people to look at my work, reflect on their actions and carefully consider their judgments. People need to think about the power they have to impact our children, the next generation. They must assess their role and some need to question their indifference.
Your work abounds with elements of graffiti. Yes, graffiti is my life.
When did you first get into graffiti? Back in ’97-’98, when I was in high school. I lived just outside of Paris and there was lots of graffiti in my neighborhood. I loved its energy and doing graffiti offered me a way to express myself – to affirm my individuality. The entire hip-hop culture inspired me.
Any favorite graffiti artists? Many…the Parisian graffiti crew Grim Team, Sharp, Crash and Seen are among my favorites.
Where are you based these days? I travel between Paris and NYC. When I’m in Paris, I tend to work in the streets. In NYC, I work from my studio. For the past two years, I’ve spent most of my time creating art in my NYC studio – many with plaster chips from Parisian walls! And so I’ve brought my streets here into my studio!
Have you any formal art education? Yes. I studied and graduated from ESAA (Ecole Superieure des Arts Appliques) in Duperré, Paris. After a brief careet in fashion design, I decided to devote my energies to creating artwork. I’ve also worked with children in various settings, using art as a tool to inspire their creativity and growth.
What do you see yourself doing in ten years? Painting and pursuing a career in fine arts.
Curated by Marianne Nems, “This is OZ, Nothing Makes Sense” continues through July 24. At tonight’s opening there will be a live performance “Mask” by guest artist, Bizard.
ADRENALINE 20’ x 6’ graffiti on canvasDead Skin Roll in -Collage graffiti wall chip over metallic sheet 8 x 8One of many images in a range of sizes on paperFrom left: Ugly-Kid GUMO, curator Marianne Nems, performance artist Bizard and gallerist Christopher Pusey
Opening tonight from 6:30 – 9:30 at the new FB Gallery at 368 Broadway is Zéh Palito’s solo exhibit, Love Peace Unicorns.As the titlesuggests, the exhibit brims with whimsical fancy. We stopped by last night as Brazilian native Zéh Palito (Danilo Ricardo Silva) was completing an indoor mural of playful, colorful geometric figures and forms. We spoke to him briefly:
When did you first start getting up in the streets? About 11 years ago.I was 14 and hanging around with my cousin who was quite a tagger. He and the movie Beat Street were myinspirations. At first, I was just into getting my name up in the style of the pixadores. It seemed like the thing to do.
Have you had any formal art education? When I was 12 years old, my mother enrolled me in a special public school, where I studied oil painting for two years. I continued to study fine arts and then graphic design as an undergraduate.
Do you feel that your formal education helped you develop as an artist – an artist whose preferred canvas is the streets?I would say, “Yes.” Certainly the people I met while I was studying art did. One of my closest friends is a former art teacher.
Why have you chosen the streets as your primary canvas? I love sharing my art with others. I feel depressed when I can’t, and I feel happy when I see people responding with smiles to my work.
Where do you most like to paint? I love painting on the countryside. People are friendlier and more appreciative.
Besides Brazil, where else have you painted? I’ve painted in Chile, Bolivia and Peru. I spent six months as a volunteer in Zambia and painted there. I’ve also had a solo exhibit in Santiago, Chile.
How do you feel about bringing your art into a gallery setting? I’d rather paint in a public space, but showing in a gallery allows me to do that.
If you could paint with anyone, with whom would you choose to collaborate? Remed…he’s one of my favorite artists.
What is your most memorable experience as a street artist? I’d say painting in an orphanage in Zambia. The experience has motivated me to become more involved with international NGO’s in the years ahead.
How do you feel about NYC? I love it. I plan to be here for at least a few weeks. I’m looking forward to finding some outdoor spaces and collaborating with some of the local artists.
One of many prints, in collaboration with ALMAAcross from the gallery
Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s, Queens native KR.ONE was hitting NYC’s subway trains, busses, walls and school yards. He was recently featured, in fact, in Roger Gastman & Caleb Neelon’s The History of American Graffiti. These days he’s bringing his old skool graffiti flavor to canvases, papers, model trains, metal surfaces and more. An array of his recent works are on exhibit at Long Island City’s L.I.C.K Gallery at 45-03 Broadway. The work will remain up through the end of August. Here’s a sample:
3rdEye(SOL)ation, Bushwick’s newest urban art space, is the perfect setting to exhibit street art. The somewhat gritty neighborhood, the inviting site itself, along with the vibes of the folks who hang out there, make it the ideal fit. When I stopped by earlier, most of the artwork for tonight’s opening was already installed. Here’s a preview:
Billi Kid
Mike Die
Quel Beast and qrst (top right)
Jason Mamarella, curator
ASVP
Photos by Lois Stavsky
The exhibit opens tonight from 7-10pm @ 1501 Broadway in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Because Gaia’s works are so elegantly powerful on the streets — especially in semi-desolate, often bleak settings — I was somewhat leery of seeing his work in a gallery setting. But his current exhibit Succession, his first solo exhibit at Jonathan LeVine’s gallery, works, as Gaia has succeeded in transforming the gallery’s project room into an authentic urban environment. The installation continues through June 25 @ 529 West 20th Street. 9th floor.
Photo by Lenny Collado
Incredulity of Redevelopment, mixed media on panel, photo by Lois Stavsky
3rdEye(Sol)ation, a spacious new gallery space at 1501 Broadway in Bushwick run by Jose Castillo, will be hosting its first street art exhibit on Friday, June 3, 7-10pm. Curated by Jason Mamarella, it features an array of artists from both coasts: Billi Kid, Peru Ana Ana Peru, ASVP, Mike Die, Jos-L, dint wooer krsna, Quel Beast, Septerhed, Choice Royce, Kosbe, QRST, Trixtr Rabbit, Bankrupt Slut, CCB, Wisher 914, ZamArt . When I stopped by earlier in the evening, Kosbe was at work on a wall which will be part of an extended open gallery. Some prints had just arrived from LA — which introduced me to the work of Septerhed. The exhibit will open in conjunction with the Arts in Bushwick Art Walk, 6/3-6/5, noon to 7pm.
I met Julio Rölle of the Berlin-based 44flavours artist collective a number of years ago in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I immediately fell in love with its zine, 44flavours, for its intelligent mix of graffiti/street art culture, graphic design, interviews, prose and poetry. I later met up with Julio in Berlin and once again was intrigued by what he and his partner, Sebastian Bagge, were doing. Working these days as graphic designers, 44flavours still paints outdoors and exhibits in various venues. Opening this evening, Wednesday, May 18, 6pm at the Café Görlitzer Bahnhof, Manteuffelstrasse 87, 10997 Berlin is a new exhibit featuring new and old work, including recent collages.
