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Remi Rough mural for Morgan Furniture

Remi Rough Mural for Morgan Furniture | Art-Pie
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We have been a big fan of Remi Rough‘s works and have been following him for a few years. Yet, he manages to keep his artistic output fresh and keeps surprising us every day.

I would mention for the records, this very similar project we covered back in 2011, the Havana Wall Project at Rich Mix, our beloved East London based culture center.

The artist has become a master at curves, lines and perspective  and this installation surely demonstrates just this.

Why such a commission for Morgan Furniture?

We gathered this statement from their website: “This is part of our exploration in to art relaxation and the benefits of colour in the workplace.”

After reading this and looking again at the piece, we can say that Remi Rough did meet the brief in a superb way. The giant curve will definitely set your mind to some untroubled mode, the colours will tempt you for a dive while the black and broken ribbon will draw you further.

A word from the artist

“I shall be transforming the two interior walls of Morgan Furniture’s Clerkenwell showroom into a huge painted installation. The two works, although separate will have a continuation and format that allows them to be viewed as one piece.”

– Remi Rough

Remi Rough exploration of shapes and colours is not something new, we again gathered from the Morgan Furniture site that he has been doing so for roughly 25 years now and that it all started a can in the hand back in 84 very late at night somewhere in South London.

Remi Rough for Morgan Furniture | Art-Pie
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Trains and walls were his targets by then. They still are, well at least walls as far as we know but more and more of his works can be seen in art galleries and commissions, sometimes commercial, keep coming his way we hear (Remi Rough will tell us if the above is not accurate).

From streets to showrooms

is how Morgan Furniture starts his blog post and we believe this got past the artist which seems to be okay with this statement and we are very happy to hear that (again, we hope this is the case – we’ll talk to Remi rough soon about so watch this space).

I wanted to highlight this point as too many so-called “street artists” this day hate this association with such organisations, campaigns or galleries as this makes them less “street” apparently. But Remi Rough does not seem to mind and we welcome this.

We could write pages about that but let’s leave it for now and just say that it is the choice of the artists to get involved or not and if they get involved, it does not take much to make sure to keep any integrity these artists may cherish.

Last but not least, these souls would bounce of joy to be featured on such (wicked) sites like ours even if they cannot admit it. Remember, if your work is awesome, get out there and be seen!

You may tell us your views on this in the Comments section below

Remi Rough at Rich Mix | Art-Pie

Remi Rough Morgan Furniture | Art-Pie
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A video which shows you how it is done

Make sure to watch the short video below which gives you an insight about the technicality and techniques it took to produce such a work. Great footage.

BLOG, FEATURE

Fairies Wires sculpture by Robin Wight

Robin Wight & his fairies wires sculptures | Art-PieSculpture is a fantastic form of art and here, at Art-Pie, our interest is growing every day.

Especially when you see what a bit of imagination and craftsmanship can do.

Meet Robin Wight, artist based in Staffordshire (England) who has taken wires sculptures to the next level.

Fairies at the bottom of the garden

Here is what he says about how his interest for wires fairies sculptures came about. You will indeed notice that the artist has a keen interest in depicting fantasy characters, like fairies, in his sculpture work.

“In 1920 two little girls photographed fairies at the bottom of their garden and created a news sensation. As we know, the photographs were fake, but the story captured the imagination of people who wanted to believe.

A couple of years ago, while trying out my new camera, I took the picture (right) in the woods at the bottom of my garden. It was only later when looking at the results that I spotted the figure in the tree (above). Its obviously a trick of the light coming through the trees. What else could it be?

Whatever it is, it captured my imagination and inspired me to use the idea in my sculpture.”

Robin Wight & his fairies wires sculptures | Art-Pie

Just a hobby for now

We understand that Robin Wight only started making Fairies sculptures recently and while it is still a hobby, he hopes to make a living out of it. We do not see why people would not pay for the artists’s creations as they will enhance any garden or parks.

“I only started wire sculptures about a year ago. I’ve been refining the quality and technique and I’m now happy to start doing commission work (before my garden turns into a theme park). Its currently a hobby which I’d like to make a career, but let’s see how much interest there is first. Every fairy is a handmade sculpture uniquely crafted to your desired pose and installation requirements.”

Robin Wight & his fairies wires sculptures | Art-Pie

Robin Wight & his fairies wires sculptures | Art-Pie

Let your creation go wild and make wires sculptures yourself!

If you are interested in how Robin Wight makes up his wires sculptures, you can head onto his website and read his detailed step-by-step section. I did not imagine how tedious, it would seem, such creations take.

Even better you can even download your FantasyWire Starter Kit

BLOG

“Chasing ghosts” by Andrew Millar at Curious Duke gallery

Andrew Millar | Art-Pie
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Award winning Curious Duke Gallery are proud to present the first UK solo show of Polaroid transparency artist Andrew Millar, with Chasing Ghosts. The East London based gallery invites you to rejoice in all things retro glamour this April 2016.

East London’s Curious Duke Gallery is known for nurturing young talent into the bright stars of the art world: Andrew Millar is no exception. UK born Millar joined CDG last year and took the gallery by storm with his distinctive ethereal style.

Hailed as a big hit at Moniker Art fair 2015, the artist creates the little known process of Polaroid collage transparencies with finesse and vintage beauty. If you haven’t seen his back catalogue yet, you will soon be falling in love with his latest collection, Chasing Ghosts.

Breathing new life into vintage imagery, like his forebears such as Andy Warhol before him, Millar collects from markets and antique dealers, the artist revives forgotten faces with his little known process of Polaroid collage transparencies. Millar explains how “When I produce the pieces I use a lot of old facial imagery so whilst lifting the polaroid and applying the gold it kind of brings them back.”

It is the final touches of these artworks that create experimental images that call to filmmaking of the 1960s and beyond, with layers of black and gold giving a touch of Hollywood glamour.

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
REVIEWS

John Felix Arnold at Shooting gallery

We did not happen to be at the opening reception for John FelixArnold III’s show Pilgrimage just because being based in London, a trip to at Shooting Gallery in San Francisco would have been just too epic.

We read though about it above all enjoyed very much looking at the artist’s new works which associate painting, drawing and mixed media. We are presented in this show with his hyperbolised visual depictions of a post-apocalyptic future world called Unstoppable Tomorrow.

This is a new installment in Arnold’s series of Past exhibition volumes have included Unstoppable Tomorrow Vol.1, Past from the Blast, The Love of All Above, Should I Stay or Should I Go?, Found in Darkness, Bright on Time, and In Memory Of. Read more about this work on Vimeo

We have included some of the works in the show below.

JOHN FELIX ARNOLD III | Art-PIe

JOHN FELIX ARNOLD III | Art-PIe JOHN FELIX ARNOLD III | Art-PIe JOHN FELIX ARNOLD III | Art-PIe JOHN FELIX ARNOLD III | Art-PIe John Felix Arnold | Art-Pie

The exhibition, running from May 10 through June 7 at Shooting gallery in San Fransisco

BLOG, PREVIEW

‘Portraits in Character’ by Alexander Newley at St Martin’s in-the-Fields

‘PORTRAITS IN CHARACTER’ BY ALEXANDER NEWLEY IN THE CRYPT OF ST MARTIN’S | Art-Pie
Alexander Newley painting Dame Judi Dench

Artist Alexander Newley is delighted to announce his solo exhibition ‘Portraits in Character – supporting St Martin-in-the-Fields’, in the Crypt of St Martin’s, Trafalgar Square from 7th to 21st November. The exhibition is to run in partnership with St Martin-in-the-Fields, a fitting location for the exhibition, with its proximity to the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery, and will mark Newley’s return to the London art world after several years in New York.

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Auction to support St Martin- in-the-Fields

St martin in the Fields | Art-Pie
Saint Martin-in-the-Fields (click to enlarge)

In Spring 2017 the paintings and drawings featured in ‘Portraits in Character – supporting St Martin- in-the-Fields’, will be auctioned to benefit the work of St Martin-in-the-Fields, including their outreach with homeless people.

For more information about this auction in support of St Martin-in-the-Fields please contact StMartins@activ.org.uk

Portraits of comedians such as Dame Judi Dench

Newley collaborated with Kenneth Branagh to create a unique series of portraits of several of the leading cast from the Plays at the Garrick season, which comes to a close this November. Alexander Newley spent time with the cast over a period of one year, capturing the actors in character backstage after performances.

The result is a series of drawings and paintings capturing the aura of some of the UK’s most celebrated actors; Dame Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh, Adrian Lester, Derek Jacobi, Richard Madden and Lily James.

Alexander Newley commented:

Painting an actor in character adds another layer of interest for me. I’ve always been fascinated by the unknowable human self and how it variously disguises and forms itself into the mask of personality. In a theatrical portrait, that self is further warped and refracted through the mask of portrayal. I am making a portrait of their portrait, in other words, which is a fascinating game of chess on many levels.

About Alexander Newley

Alexander Newley | art-Pie
Alexander Newley

Alexander Newley is a leading contemporary portrait artist working on both sides of the Atlantic, known for his iconic depictions of major figures in the Arts including; Gore Vidal, Billy Wilder, Christopher Reeve, Oliver Stone and Steven Berkoff. His portrait of Gore Vidal, America’s infamous polemicist and wit, and his dramatic triple-portrait of Actor, Activist and former Superman star Christopher Reeve, imprisoned in his life-supporting wheelchair, form part of the permanent collection of The National Portrait Gallery at The Smithsonian in Washington DC.

About St Martin-in-the-Fields

St Martin-in-the-Fields is a landmark church, which has been serving London for centuries. The iconic building stands as a beacon in Trafalgar Square, welcoming people through its doors for services, music or simply as a place of quiet sanctuary from the bustle of central London.

St Martin’s is famous for offering a welcome and practical support to some of the most vulnerable people in society. This December marks the 90th Anniversary of the BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal. The money raised helps homeless people who receive shelter, food, help and advice at The Connection at St Martin’s; as well as maintaining a special Vicar’s Relief Fund which makes thousands of one off grants to vulnerable people across the UK.

STREET ART

Banksy new pieces in Los Angeles – part2

This is the follow up of the first set of new pieces from Banksy spotted in Los Angeles last week, read about it here

Two more pieces can be now seen in L.A. One is located not far from the USC campus and depicts what looks like a family running with a kite, understand here the comparison with the illegal immigrant caution signs that can be seen along the Mexican border.

Another quite quirky piece has been done on an abandoned oil tanker. A simple message says on it – This Looks A Bit Like An Elephant

CONTEMPORARY ART, PREVIEW

The creative bubble at Roxy

The Creative Bubble | Art-PieThere you have it – the first edition of The Creative Bubble, a new monthly event down in South London just a stone throw away from the Thames.What are we looking at here? Three nights, once a month, The Creative Bubble will try to painti a new picture of contemporary art via a host of different mediums. And more importsntly, there will be a 30 day rolling gallery with original art and limited edition prints, curated by Incandescent Artists, is a showcase of a who’s who in the UK art scene.

The exhibition is complemented by 3 nights of award winning short films, slam poetry and music.

The first set of visual artists is set to be a cracker – Inkie – Parlee ERZ – Dan ‘DANK’ Kitchener – Gnasher -Eska -Rowan Newton – Otto Schade -spZero76 – KeMeF Inc – Suzko -Zina – Cherie Strong – Artista – Jack Candy Kemp – SLM – Hush – Amara Por Dios – Martyna Pikula – Lee Hadwin – Rosie Emerson – ROO – Skyhigh and Sam Gare. WHAT – THE CREATIVE BUBBLE WHERE – Roxy Bar & Screen, 128 – 132 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LB WHEN – Event dates: 15th -16th -17th April 2014 Exhibition Dates: 15th April – 14th May 2014

Creative Bubble | Art-Pie FREE ENTRY

GRAFFITI

Splash on cellophane, not walls

Should the thought of being arrested and possibly get a jail sentence for spraying on walls refrain you from expressing your creativity, look no further we have got a solution.

1. Get down to your corner shop or supermarket and buy cellophane rolls, loads of them.
2. Find two trees or pillars quite close to each other and start rolling the cellophane around one of them
3. Stretch the roll to the other tree and again roll it around
4. Tear off
5. Smile
6. Get your cans out
7. Spray.

We have included below shots from the collective CelloGraff who are keen “cellophane street artists” (<– just made that term up) as well as a video showing how they do it

Graffiti on cellophane by CelloGraph | Art-Pie
Graffiti on cellophane by CelloGraph | Art-Pie

Graffiti on cellophane by CelloGraph | Art-Pie
Graffiti on cellophane by CelloGraph | Art-Pie
Graffiti on cellophane by CelloGraph | Art-Pie

First seen on Design Taxi

GRAFFITI

Jumping on the bandwagon – The Foundry

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The Foundry has really been doing the rounds on the street art/graffiti blogs and websites over the last month or so. Some people are loving it and others are getting sick of hearing about it.

As we are huge fans of many of the artists that have been adorning the walls, we decided to jump on the band wagon and do a write up about it, yet to be slightly different we wanted to drop a little history to give you a understanding of this locations significance to the local community and art scene.

The Building operated as a bank originally and was decommissioned in the 90’s when Tracey and Jonathan Moberly took out a lease on the space and turned it into a gallery for local and emerging artists. To cover costs, they opened the Foundry bar in the front section of the building, but wanted people to know that it was predominantly a art space. The bar however became a hang out for many current and future celebrities, Pete Doherty was known for hosting his poetry nights there.

The walls of the basement are heavily covered in early work by many big name graffiti and street artists such and Banksy and Faile. The walls have also been heavily tagged by regulars and visitors alike.

The Foundry came into the spotlight for a different reason in early 2010 when Hackney council approved the plans to build an 18-storey hotel and retail complex on the space, of course this successfully outraged the local community. Its not the first time that underground venues have had to make way for big business, but in this case the anger was directed at the blatant attempt to cash in on emerging trends.

The back of the building has a 6 meter high Banksy on the rear wall that is to be preserved and made a focal point of the commissioned ” Art’otel” and a large wooden hording has been placed over the artwork to preserved for future placement as a feature in the hotel (the murals by Zezao & Mr.Sperm currently cover the front of the hording).

Of course this profiteering by the corporate world on a mainstream encroaching subculture angered the art community and resulted in heavy protesting. But as always this was a valiant but futile effort and the building is in the process of being shut down and ready for demolition.

So how this links into the current surge in artwork? Through the right channels and with permission of the current lease holders, local and travelling artists have been given the green light to go to town on the space.

Check out all the shots we have ever taken of the foundry here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chasingghosts/sets/72157626097759963/

Featured artists: Milo Tchais, Run, Zezao, Mr.Sperm, Elmo, ATG, Stik and of course ROA.

STREET ART ENCOUNTERS