Seattle's Roq La Rue Gallery has a star-studded group show opening this Friday, May 8. Titled "
Lush Life," the exhibition features Glenn Barr, Joe Sorren, Chris Berens, Travis Louie, Kukula, Femke Hiemstra, Brian Despain, and many other great painters. Top, Barr's "Summer"; Below left, Travis Louie's "Miss Cynthia." The whole show is viewable online too. From the show description:
While many galleries in the "underground"/Pop Surrealism art scene have increasing turned towards street art, Roq la Rue has decided to instead focus on the more formal, Symbolist -inspired painters in the genre. "Lush Life" brings together painters in both the alt-art world as well as contemporary art scene, who all work within a guideline of tight technical craftsmanship as well the use of opulent and decadent imagery to convey higher inner truths and emotions. This take on "Neo-Symbolism" is different from it's predecessor in that while it still mines the unconscious for a sense of mythic gravitas, it incorporates American culture's pervasive pop culture-flavored and cartoony aesthetic.
Lush Life preview
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I wish this was in NYC.
"I used to visit all the very gay places,
those come what may places,
where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life
to get the feel of life,
from jazz and cocktails."
Brie - If I knew any NY gallery owners who'd fit, I'd suggest they try and get a show.
Here's the Nat King Cole version on imeem.com
Jonathan Levine would fit.
Sweet! the water sprite looks like she has the same Epiphone Casino I have!
Man, and I was JUST in Seattle too.
Miss Cynthia looks like Klarion The Witch Boy:
http://gutteral.blogspot.com/2009/01/sketchbook-2-darwyn-cooke.html
Much of the pop surrealism stuff leads me cold, but not these particular works - sounds like a really good show, and I appreciate you bringing it to my attention.
I saw this show last night. A nice selection of works. While I was there because a few of my former coworkers were showing, a few new-to-me artists also caught my eye: Mia Araujo, Travis Louie, and Dan Quintana* all had some lovely works there. (*The Dan Quintana piece that shows in the preview is not as good as his other piece which didn't make it into the preview for some reason.)