Introducing a brand new series of paintings, Children of a Lesser God furthers the artist’s exploration into notions of control and release as well as the fundamental need for survival, love and liberty. Vaughn’s new works manifest these concepts through bleak, dystopian cityscapes that he juxtaposes with child-like imagery and untouched scenes of nature.
Gradations of oil paint are slowly built up layer by layer with brilliantly hued subjects taking centre stage within a muted urban backdrop of dreamy pastels. Wild animals run freely through the urban setting and masked children void of inhibitions heroically feature within downtrodden neighborhoods. Such imagery embodies the limits of humankind’s ability to outright conquer the exterior world as well as completely repress inner desires. Vaughn says, “These compulsory wild impulses propel both the feral and the tame throughout our lives, causing beautiful and sometimes savage moments.”
Children of a Lesser God invites the audience to project their own thoughts about personal existence irrespective of location. Through the contrast of minutely detailed wildlife and child superheroes against diaphanous cityscapes, Vaughn’s body of work in provides a eerily familiar setting which somehow both comforts and inspires his audience with visionary designs of freedom.
Streetwise characters such as Peck’em Pigeon, Barkin’ Dog, Foxall Fox, Bushey Squirrel and Purr-ley Cat take centre stage in Stephenson’s solo exhibition, something they’re quite used to after being placed in permanent collections such as the Marriott Hotel in Westminster, where their furry faces adorn each and every room.
Following a visit from the whole gang at Jealous Print Studio, the characters have been re-imagined and reinvigorised into brand new screenprint editions, as well as original paintings and a host of other new, very small editions.
Click to enlarge
Simon Stephenson will also be giving away a very secret, special original to the first 10 purchasers of the new works.
So don’t miss it. Or we’ll send Peck’em Pigeon round.
Simon Stephenson is a London based artist and professional illustrator. He has worked as a creative in advertising for over 20 years. Simon’s work has been featured in the ‘Association of Illustrators Annual’ and used in many advertising campaigns including Telewest, Barclays Bank, Orange, NHS, Jigsaw among many others. His work has been used and featured in several books such as ‘The big book of illustration ideas.’Inspiration is sought for his artworks in London and its denizens, both
human and animal and his work finds a home in celebrity and permanent collections, such as TBC Suggs from Madness and Chancery Court, London.
We only recently heard from Plastic Jesus, a Los Angeles based artist, and while his motivation are clearly political and on that basis can be compared to other street artists such as Banksy, although Plastic Jesus seems to vary a little more his mediums and art forms by often making bold installations which he will spread around the city of LA.
We have included below some of his works.
Reading a bit more about the artist, I quickly realised that we are looking at a “modern” street artist –
1. Mass audience attention thanks to The Huffington Post in particular which listed two works by Plastic Jesus in the end of year round up of “The Best of Los Angeles Street art 2012”, one of them was “No more heroes” featuring disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong connected to an IV drip
2.Concerns about his work ethic and try to harm as little the environment. The artist will even send someone to remove his work should you not like it
3. Does art galleries show, sell prints of his street artworks and he is represented in the UK by Walton Fine Arts located in Knightsbridge
The last point will make cringe the purists street art heads out there.
I have no particular issue with the points above and like the messages Plastic Jesus tries to get accross, what do you reckon?
Last Thursday night, Nick Thomm’s latests solo exhibition, Tropic Glows, opened.
Thomm took over the entire two-story space, transforming the basement into a fully immersive screening room, in which he housed his intricate 3D video works, while upstairs played host to both the crowds and a combination of Thomm’s mixed media works on fluro Plexiglass, holographic skate decks and neon pieces.
We included below 3 animated GIF works by the artist. We like them very much. Do you?
Exhibition runs until November 18th @ Castle Fitzjohns Gallery. 98 Orchard St, Lower East Side, New York (Open 7 Days, 12PM-7PM).
Funding cuts aplenty and rent price hikes it’s no wonder galleries are tiptoeing around trying to make the best decisions when it comes to their businesses. So there was surprise when art collector Jay Joplin announced the opening of his third London space – White Cube Bermondsey.
Already coveting two sort-after addresses in Mayfair and Hoxton this new venture seems to be taking on not only a larger space – in fact 58,000 sq ft of interior space- but a different vibe too. Set in 1970s warehouse it is the largest of the gallery’s three London sites and has been re designed by Casper Mueller Kneer Architects. The result is what on the opening last night looked like a cross between a spaceship and a multi-storey car park entrance.
There is a particular timing about this new space as it debuts at a perfect few weeks in the art calendar. For the next 2 weeks hundreds of collectors and buyers descend on London for the Frieze Art Fair and the whole host of exhibitions and pop up spaces that come along with it.
After queuing and being penned in for around 30 minutes we finally got inside. With it being dark outside already the bright lights and white walls were overwhelming, I felt like I needed blinkers to stop squinting. Once inside you are greeted with a long corridor off of it are the three principal exhibition spaces, private viewing rooms, an auditorium and a bookshop – which I have to say was my favourite space I could have spent a lot of money.
After trying to match the exhibition descriptions on the guide to the artworks (no labels featured) we explored the first space at the centre of the building, a gallery entitled ‘9 x 9 x 9’. Presenting here is Cerith Wyn Evans with a clinical neon light installation that wraps around this literally cubed room. It felt as if the words had come out of the walls due to the white neon and smooth quality.
Structure & Absence in the South Galleries include Gary Hume’s works which looked like they were dripping off the canvas in Room I with their metallic surfaces popping out from the white smooth walls. Room II features some bits and bobs from Damien Hirst. His Chinese scholars’ rocks and more familiar things like his ‘Neverland’ in room II – a mirrored shelved board filled with pills –think Smarties and disco.
Three smaller galleries, collectively known as the ‘North Galleries’ is where Kitty Kraus’ pieces can be found which are highlight for me. Her light box installations are tranquil and the prisms of light reflect on the blank canvas walls creating cityscape structures that reminded me of Tron.
Dinos and Jake Chapman have their two cents worth in the screening room. Can’t say too much about it as, well, you just have to see for yourself. If features Rhys Evans as an angst ridden artist and left us with puzzled faces afterwards.
It’s worth a look to see some of the lesser known contemporary artists on show and for the space itself, no doubt there will be some bigger things to come from this space in future.
“Structure and absence” runs until the 26/11/11
White Cube | Bermondsey Street | 144 —152 Bermondsey Street | London SE1 3TQ http://www.whitecube.com
Having been a fan of Ben Oakley’s art work for the last few years I was really excited to see the Ben Oakley Gallery open in Greenwich last year. Having spoken to Ben this week he has given me details of the upcoming show in January which looks to be another good mix of contemporary street art. Ben works with a range of artists involved in the emerging and established contemporary and street art culture as well as creating his own work and being involved in various art projects and curatorial events. As a lover of series my favourite work of Ben’s are his trademark fairies, bears and yeti’s.
Show Details:
In January 2012, Otto Schade brings his extraordinary artwork to the Ben Oakley Gallery in Greenwich. He will be exhibiting original unseen artwork and ltd edition prints from 21st January – 5th February.
Originally from Concepcion in Nothern Chile, Schade now lives in London, where he works as a University Lecturer in the field of Architecture. He balances his career with a passion for creating beautiful and detailed artworks, both in the studio and at street level.
Schade uses his ribbons to compose beautifully intricate images, often referencing popular culture. However, he also creates more thought-provoking works, that resonate with deep and symbolic meaning.
Schade has forged a reputation as one of London’s foremost street artists, with his instantly recognisable ribbon motif adorning many walls throughout London and beyond gaining admiration from Private collectors and Artists alike.
Otto Schade will be in attendance.
BEN OAKLEY GALLERY PRESENTS: ‘URBAN SCHADE’
PREVIEW EVENING: Friday 20th January 2012 7.00 – 9.30 pm
EXHIBITION DATES: Saturday 21st January – Sunday 5th February 2012
VISITOR INFORMATION.
BEN OAKLEY GALLERY
9 Turnpin Lane Greenwich London SE10 9JA
(top end of the indoor market.)
Opening Times: Thursdays –Sundays 11-6pm
Monday –Wednesday by appointment.
All media enquiries /invitations: please email Ben Oakley.
Telephone. 07976 692 751 www.benoakleygallery.com
DLR: Cutty Sark Greenwich ( 2 minutes walk )
Overground Train:Greenwich Station ( 5 minutes walk )
“The Ugly America” show opening today at The Outsiders is the work of legendary graffiti artist Saber’. The artist spent 8 weeks immersed in the Outsiders Newcastle branch last autumn and created all the works on display in the gallery this time in London.
We stepped in and were hardly wowed by what we were seeing: a series of pale wooden pallets works. We quickly realised that they were all depicting “The Star-Spangled Banner”, understand the American flag.
But then we remembered that “The Ugly American” refers to a multi-million-copy best selling book and 1963 movie, in which Marlon Brando starred, and is all about telling about the dark side of the American foreign policy. I looked again at the pale stuff and could relate now. Off downstairs…
The mood was slightly happier down here and colours from Saber’s pieces smiling at me. The artist’s technique that consists of mixing aerosol art with oil and even charcoal pleased my little eyes.
What – “The Ugly American” by Saber
Where – The Outsiders London | 8 Greek Street, Soho, London W1D 4DG | Monday – Saturday, 11:00AM – 7:00PM
When – Friday 10th of January 2014 to Saturday 15th of February 2014
