chumpchampion

Although it appears as though he’s sticking with his signature pink characters, backgrounds and animated landscapes, the ever growing Buff Monster goes Beyond the Pink at Culver City’s Corey Helford Gallery.

From CHG:

“For “Beyond The Pink”, Buff Monster creates a new series of acrylic-on-panel works that radiate with his signature pink neons, Superflat style, and disarmingly subversive characters. The artist’s futuristic playgrounds bounce with creative expression as multi-hued argyle pyramids intermix with melting facades and floating faces.

Presenting his works in a larger and more detailed context than before, Buff Monster revisits his classic ice cream and maraschino cherry imagery with an eyeful of fresh inspiration. Returning from his recent travels to open the “Art From The New World” museum exhibition in Bristol, England, the artist adopts a more experimental approach, blending his iconic graphics with new landscapes, as well as introducing portraits for the first time.

“This new body of work is influenced by the history of Western art that I saw throughout Europe. My time at the Louvre viewing Renaissance paintings was truly inspiring. The National Gallery in London had some amazing pieces as well. And then visiting the Tate Modern was a bit of a shock after seeing nothing but classical paintings, but the pop stars like Lichtenstein and Warhol still get my pulse racing,” Buff Monster adds.

Upstairs in the loft, a vibrant series of flattened metal spray cans customized by Buff Monster will be on display. Open to the public, the reception for “Beyond The Pink” will take place on Saturday, September 4 from 7 to 10pm, and the show will be on view until September 22, 2010.”

Tweet This Post 

The epic oil paintings of Eric Joyner reveal the secret domesticated life of robots in his solo Donut Logic show invading the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City.

From CHG:

“For his third solo exhibition at the gallery, Eric Joyner unveils a bold new twist to his decade-long odyssey of donuts and robots. Exploring new territories, Joyner’s metal humanoids reveal the secret life of robots: they sport tattoos, balance careers and families, and expose their hidden desires. “Donut Logic” will also debut the addition of cupcakes to Joyner’s signature glazed landscapes.

“I think the robots in my paintings reflect how a lot of us act and feel”, explains Joyner, and for “Donut Logic” his robots are more domestic than before, enjoying life’s comforts and small pleasures in a post apocalyptic world, such as gardening and bicycling.“

Tweet This Post 

So sorry for the super late posts today people of the internets. Hope you get out and enjoy your second summertime weekend!

Joe Ledbetter’s Magnus Maximus at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City.

From CHG:

“This June, join iconic Los Angeles artist Joe Ledbetter for the highly-anticipated debut of “Magnus
Maximus”. A solo exhibition of different stripes, “Magnus Maximus” is an epic travel adventure based on Ledbetter’s journeys through Europe and beyond.

For his first solo show at Corey Helford Gallery, Ledbetter creates an extraordinary collection of new paintings and drawings, filled with engaging narratives and bold visuals that are as autobiographical as they are a classic hero story. A true tale of wretched victory, “Magnus Maximus” is a character study in twists of fate and fortune, power and privilege.”

Tweet This Post 

Hey, you in England this weekend? Then head over to Bristol to check out the Corey Helford gallery’s massive group show featuring “a big brash exhibition of the new American art scene” in Art From the New World. Among the openings grand features include: an “ice cream cone” balloon sculpture courtesy of Buff Monster; Gary Baseman’s painted creations come to life as costumed characters make a rare appearance; Mike Stilkey transforms a wall of 2,000 books* into a ten-foot “canvas”; as well as the works of Josh Agle (SHAG), Luke Chueh, Coop, Ron English, Natalia Fabia, Camille Rose Garcia, Sylvia Ji, Carlos Ramos, Mark Ryden, Todd Schorr, Joe Sorren, Adam Wallacavage and many, many more.

From CHG:

“ART FROM THE NEW WORLD presents a diverse range of artists, spanning the spectrum from pop surreal and neo-figurative to street art in the exhibition. Virtually all of the works have been specifically created for the show and will infiltrate not only the exhibition gallery, but most of the ground floor of the museum. There will be a full programme of events accompanying the exhibition and visitors will have the opportunity to buy a limited edition set of prints signed by the artists.”

Tweet This Post 

Smithsonian Portrait Gallery finalist Jason Shawn Alexander returns to Corey Helford Gallery for the debut of his first Los Angeles solo exhibition Mourners Walk Over Maple Leaves.

From CHG:

“Noted as one of the finest upcoming figurative artists in the new American scene, Jason Shawn Alexander creates visually arresting works from his Los Angeles studio. For “Mourners Walk Over Maple Leaves”, Alexander’s enigmatic figures are filled with kinetic tension and languid grace, and he employs a rich palette of ambers, grays and okras to complement their moods. His narratives speak with raw honesty and pure emotion, expressing a spectrum of themes that are as dark and soulful as they are inspirational and exhilarating.

Taking a turn from previous exhibits, Alexander states, “This series of works is the most personal collection I’ve done. All pretense seems to have disappeared and I’m painting for myself. I’m still painting the figure, playing with flesh and atmosphere and paint, but really exploring it with my own eyes. I’m painting what I want to paint and how I want to paint. And I’ve included something I’ve wanted to do for years - large works on paper. It’s a series of seven life-size figurative works whose title, “The Mourners”, correlates with the title of the exhibition. It will be something to see.“

Tweet This Post 

Joshua Petker comes to Culver City’s Corey Helford Gallery with his new collection of painted works in the bittersweet Between Butterflies.

From CHG:

“Petker’s second solo exhibition at the gallery is his most stunning to date, an exquisite showstopper of sophistication and style. Petker’s new series of works displays a thematic evolution, creating narratives about change and renewal, while combining his signature style of figurative work with unique color fields following in, and expanding upon, the American tradition of beautiful yet angry abstract art. Drawing inspiration from fashion and beauty, Petker’s painted muses are catalysts of change and icons of reinvention, adorned in gold and neon accents.”

Tweet This Post 

Lola’s magical creatures and dark whimsy return in the highly anticipated Ipsum Factum at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City.

From CHG:

“For “Ipsum Factum”, Lola creates narratives that are more metaphorical than before, illustrating harmonious relationships between humans and animals. Her palette takes a softer direction, adopting soothing neutral, earthy tones, and her work increases both in scale and content. Each piece originates from her personal selection of signature antique frames.”

For more on Lola and her magical world click here or the images below.

Lola photographed by Kevin Knight

Tweet This Post 

Children and paint and dark situations come together in Michael Mararian’s Youth Parade at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City.

Tweet This Post 

Although it may be cold and damp in LA, this weekend’s openings and events are sure to heat you up physically, mentally, emotionally and hopefully drunkenly.

• Giant Robot’s Biennale 2: 15 Years keeps on rolling with Friday’s intimate artist talk with fabled painter James Jean and GR’s Eric Nakamura (special edition print release too!) followed by Saturday’s (free admission day!) kid friendly art-making workshop with Stella Lai at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo.

• Portland based artist Andy Kehoe opens his bigest west coast show to date when he unveils The World Unseen and Those In Between at Silver Lake’s Thinkspace Gallery. Take a sneak peek of the show here.

• The Multi-Plane group show at Culver City’s Corey Helford Gallery marks their biggest group show of the year in a throwback to early animation where “each artist created an original painting using the multi-plane, which was made famous by pioneer animators Ub Iwerks, Max Fleischer, Bill Garrity, and Walt Disney. Consisting of three individual surfaces housed in a custom-made frame, the multi-plane creates depth and a three-dimensional effect through two glass foreground layers and a background wood panel.” Among the incredible lineup of artists are Todd Schorr, Gary Baseman, COOP, Tim Biskup, Sylvia Ji, Ron English, Luke Chueh, Jeff Soto, Carlos Ramos and Sage Vaughn.

• The Hit+Run homeboys celebrate their four year anniversary of silkcreening Southern California with Repeat Offender at the Echoplex in Echo Park. A celebration sure to turn into the weekend’s funnest dance party. “With close to 100,000 one-of-a-kind HIT+RUN shirts printed since the debut in November 2005, show off your favorite H+R shirt and get into the party for FREE. The first 300 guests receive complimentary gift bags with mix cds, stickers courtesy of STICKY RICK, and your choice of a blank t-shirt or poster to customize.” Featuring live screenprinting of 20 exclusive designs from Kofie One, Shark Toof, Kime Buzzelli and Mike C among others as well as music from the Gaslamp Killer and many more of LA’s finest.

• A double dosage of the fine folks of Family on Fairfax as they open the aptly titled Group Show One on Saturday featuring artists Ashley Macomber, Kevin Christy, Nicholas Haggard and Sarah Soquel Morhaim, followed by Sunday’s launch of Dear JD Salinger, I Forgive You Signed, Yoko a limited edition book of new poems by Spencer Moody and Anthony Anzalone and published by Cali’s Teenage Teardrops.

• Sweetness is abundant on Saturday as Susan Cianciolo returns to LA with her latest collection of art and uniquely designed clothing with Mountains and Flowers. Also joining Susan will be the musical stylings of the multi-talented ASKA, all going down at Space 15Twenty in Hollywood.

• ‘Tis the season for Santacon. ‘Nuff said. Click here for Saturday Santacons in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Check here for other worldwide Santacon locations.

• And finally, the fortunate art lovers of New York are treated to a double billing: James Marshall (DALEK) and his high flying space monkeys in his show And There Was War in Heaven; as well as the beautiful wooden women of Audrey Kawasaki in her show Hajimari-A Prelude. Both opening at the city’s Jonathan Levine Gallery.

Tweet This Post 

Time for girls to dress like slutty something-somethings, guys to make minor adjustment to last year’s costumes and for me to edit my ass off on another uncelebrated Halloween (that makes 3 out of the last 5). And since I’ll be working on Saturday I’ll be dressed as an editor. BOO!

• Start your Halloween with some brain…cancer research fundraising. The Zombiethon-A Run For Brains is costumed walk/run fundraiser benefiting brain cancer research to be held at the Silver Lake reservoir.

• Find out what lurks In the Garden of the Mystic as Andrew Brandou unveils new paintings and rare silk-screened wood blocks at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City. *Also free Halloween poster print for first 400 attendees at the opening!
  

• The evening gets weirder at The Cinefamily and Dublabs joint Bollyween party, a Bollywood-style Halloween party featuring drinks and dosas (provided by The Dosa Truck), ghoulish giveaways, costume prizes, DJ sets from the dublab “Bloodsucking” Sound System and Dr. Who Witchcraft Coven, more live performances and of course Bollyweird: The Movie — “their very own feature-length video mashup celebrating the most horrifying, fantastic, costume-crazed and outlandish moments of vintage Indian musical madness ever.”

• And of course what Halloween wouldn’t be complete without, uh, Halloween? John Carpenter’s 1978 scarefest gets even scarier as Cinespia screens Halloween at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

• And after all your Halloween night debauchery, how bout some wholesome goodness on Sunday with Hello Kitty’s Birthday Party. Curated by the fine folks of Flux, the continuing Hello Kitty Three Apples celebration takes place at the Royal/T Cafe in Culver City. The day’s events include workshops with artists Gary Baseman and Buff Monster and a live performance by the LA Ladies Choir complete with birthday cake!

From Flux:

You are invited to Hello Kitty’s Birthday Party. Come explore the Three Apples art exhibition and join some of the fun birthday activities planned throughout the day. Hello Kitty’s Birthday Party is hosted by Flux.

10am-12pm - Birthday Breakfast with Hello Kitty and DJ Lady Sinclair

11am-12pm - Figure Drawing Workshop with Three Apples artist Gary Baseman (Limited Capacity, sold out)

12pm-1pm - Toy Workshop with Three Apples artist Buff Monster (Limited Capacity, sold out)

2pm-3pm - Sushi & Bento Workshop with acclaimed chef Sushi Girl (Limited Capacity, sold out)

4pm-5pm - Live singing performance by LA Ladies Choir and Birthday Cake with Hello Kitty

Plus Hello Kitty Birthday Photo Booth

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Royal-T
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232-2326
(310) 559-6300
Three Apples Exhibition: A Celebration of All Things Hello Kitty

Tweet This Post