This past Thursday, December 22 was a sneak peak of “Art Show 2011,” the follow up by infamous street artist Thierry Guetta (AKA “Mr. Brainwash”) to his 2008 art show, “Life Is Beautiful.” Guetta is most known for his controversial role in the 2011 Oscar-nominated docudrama, “Exit Through The Gift Shop,” directed by renowned street artist, Banksy.
International graffiti artist duo HOW and NOSM have been beautifying the globe for over 23 years now, dodging bullets, and running from police dogs in the name of sharing their art. In this episode, the duo heads to a land where wall space is plentiful and cops are gentle. Video after the jump.
The MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles) not only legitimized decades of street art with their current exhibit Art in the Streets, but they initiated a campaign for the public to truly participate in the approval or criticism of that art.
ChinaShop sent one of our finest photographers to show us his perspective on what’s what. Its not to late for you to get out there and think for yourself. Art is truly in the eye of the beholder. Get out there and behold already!
LAB ART is currently featuring “Miss Danger on the Loose,” an all female street art exhibit which showcases the work of some of the city’s most up and coming artists including: Lydia Emily, Becca Midwood, K H No.7, Sara Incognito, Clio, Random Acts, Adventures, Ease Kym CBS, Lori Michael and Gretta Kuresi.
For an “invite only” soirée, the official “Miss Danger on the Loose” launch party was packed. Crowds of people lined up in the hopes of getting to the front of the line before capacity was reached while those not on the list attempted to butter up the bouncers enough to get in. Those that made it inside were able to feat their eyes on over 50 paintings, photographs, and installation pieces created by some pretty amazing women.
Street art is the Lady Gaga of the art world, it’s all the rage right now.
Currently on display inside the Sunset Marquis’s Maximillian Gallery is “What Graffiti is to New York – Street Art is to Los Angeles.” The gallery, which is curated by Melrose & Fairfax, takes a look at the street art movement in the Los Angeles scene.
From a 9-year old artist who sketches portraits of Pee Wee Herman and Batman, to a porn star who draws from her controversial background as inspiration, the exhibit takes viewers through a unique array of artist visions.
When it comes to street art, graffiti, or any artwork that winds up in public, there’s a certain process involved that can be as interesting as the final piece itself. With The Chicago Street Art Show, the work of Chicago-based artists like Don’t Fret, Chris Silva, Goons, and Mental 312 is hardly framed in a neat display; this show held at the Chicago Urban Art Society exists freely on and off the walls of the gallery, allowing people to really see the work and layers involved in contemporary street art. Personally getting to witness the final day of setup for this show illustrated how much life these pieces take on—especially when multiple artists bring their individual visions together.
Art in the Streets is the first major U.S. museum exhibition on the history of graffiti and street art, featuring the genre’s evolution from the bombing of New York’s subway cars to cholo tagging in the streets of L.A. to the contemporary street art popularized by the likes of Shepard Fairey and Banksy.
Located at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in L.A., Art in the Streets will run from April 17 to August 8, 2011, showcasing installations by 50 of the most dynamic street artists in the world. Artists include Banksy, Fab 5 Freddy, Lee Quiñones, Futura, Swoon, Shepard Fairey, JR, Retna, and Mister Cartoon.
We are firmly entrenched in awards season, though it could just as well be called Banksy season.
The famously incognito British artist is getting all sorts of accolades for his film “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” a documentary (or mock documentary, or neither) on a French filmmaker-turned-street artist, Thierry Guetta, aka Mr. Brainwash. The film is nominated for a BAFTA Award, and recently won the top prize at the Cinema Eye Awards.
And now it can add an Oscar nod.
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As I mentioned briefly in my magical music post, I’m one week into my three-week stay in good ol’ London and finding myself falling even more in love with this city. I’m lucky enough to get over here several times a year but generally when I’m over I feel rushed to squeeze everything in – seeing friends, having quality time with the boy, smashing in my favorite foods (oh Amigos, you make the best chicken and bacon sandwich in the world) and bars, making runs to Boots and Topshop, being dragged to Forbidden Planet and whatnot. So it’s been completely wonderful to just relax and enjoy the city, putter about and explore.
I dipped into a number of galleries this week but the following are my favorites.
“My son was a burglar.”, mutters Esther as I worry that my missing sock is lost and scared. “I didn’t quite mind because he would occasionally bring me nice things from the places he was buglar-ing. And always red, my favorite color.” I’ll get back to her in a second…
