-I sometimes eat at this late night dinner on Vermont in Los Feliz, They have the most amazing paintings in there of these massive looming words and thoughts towering through dramatic thrift store-esque landscapes. Any time I eat there I end up annoying my company as i just want to stare at the paintings the entire time… I had no idea the artist who created those pieces was the same guy that art directed Pee-Wee’s playhouse! -Wayne White seems soo cool, i want to hang out with this dude.
VICTOR REYES / THE JUNGLE
Opens: March 24, 2012 | 8-11pm
Runs: March 24 – April 7, 2012
Known Gallery is pleased to present The Jungle, featuring new paintings by Victor Reyes. In this ambitious body of work, Reyes’ illuminates the savage nature of humanity in the context of modern day America while simultaneously exposing the primal, mammalian inclinations that pulse just under the facade of contemporary culture. The artist critiques the premium placed on notions of “civility” while celebrating instinct and acknowledging the dark underbelly of our society.
The Jungle is a two yearlong exploration of human nature and survival. Jungle themes first appeared on Reyes’ black and while murals and have been translated into the subject of many paintings on wood panel that explore a variety of color palettes.
The Jungle is submerged in the representational motifs of animals, carnage and patterns arrayed in warm, vibrant colors that recall the meat, bone and sinew that comprise all mammals. Herein lie tapestries of line and palette whose language and conversation are a departure from the formulaic and mundane. Within this new work, Reyes reveals a world of color and form where situational dramas are framed into context by pigment and fury. Each new picture presents the very real emotions of survival and dominance in an exhibition that encapsulates Reyes’ stark and meaty vision of our civilization.
Since the early 90s, Reyes has been painting. His work has been shown extensively in countries around the world, including the group show titled Letters First (2006) which traveled to Tokyo, Taipei, Korea, and Barcelona, Public Provocation (2008) at Carhartt Gallery, Weil am Rein, Germany, Will Rise group show (2010) as Yves Laroche Gallery, Montreal, Canada and Misspelled (2010), a solo show at Robert Berman E6 Gallery, San Francisco. Misspelled was culminated through an experiment in typography in which Reyes painted all 26 letters of the alphabet in the Mission and he published a 104-page book for the exhibition under the same name.
Reyes’ work has been commissioned for Louis Vuitton in conjunction with Stephen Sprouse for a San Francisco Flagship store release and in 2010, his feature, “Man of Letters on a Mission” was the cover story for the San Francisco Chronicle.
This is Reyes’ second solo exhibition at Known Gallery since unveiling his show Warpaint in 2010.
DYLAN MADDUX / CAMBODIA, The New Life
Opens: March 24, 2012 | 8-11pm
Runs: March 24 – April 7, 2012
Chances are, you’ve seen the work of Dylan Maddux without realizing it. Maddux has been shooting crisp, raw, vivid photos all over the globe for years. He always maintains that tangible, almost indescribable, flavor to insure a genuine feel… Be prepared to envy his career. –Katie Zuppann
Born in Los Angeles, Dylan dove into the world of photography in 1999 when he moved to San Francisco where he spent the next 12 years perfecting his craft. Most of his time was spent in Lower Haight, a district that would ultimately shape his signature style. He began working with the newly established clothing company/gallery Upper Playground and shot the works of artists the company represented at the time. His other early works consisted mainly of hip-hop editorials and advertising in the skateboard industry. From there he moved onto street photography shooting portraits of street hustlers, gang members, and “the sexy girls next door”.
His photography has been published in both domestic and international publications including Intersection (UK), Warp (Japan), Slap, Thrasher, Juxtapoz, Mass Appeal, and Swindle. He was also one of ten photographers to be published in Juxtapoz Photo, the book.
He has shown at many galleries including YBCA (SF), FTC (Japan), Known Gallery (LA), BACC (Bangkok), 1AM (SF), and Cassel Gallery (SF) where he showed his latest solo exhibit Mau Loa, a Hawaiian portrait series..
Always in need of a challenge, Maddux has stepped into the world of directing and shooting videos. To date, he’s done numerous video works in Kingston, Jamaica; Hawaii; Bangkok; Hong Kong; and San Francisco.
He has been in Southeast Asia for the last year and a half. Of that time, he spent over a year in Bangkok photographing fashion, red light, and street culture. He has recently moved to Phnom Penh, Cambodia where he is currently working on completing his first book.
Known Gallery
441 North Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
info@knowngallery.com
I grew up really into video games, In particular Japanese arcade games. Games like Ghouls & Ghosts, Strider, Forgotten Worlds, Bionic Commando, Metal Slug, Contra, Castlevania, etc. were especially my favorite… I loved everything about those old side-scrolling games but what i really loved most about them was the art. The simple yet stylish comic aesthetic with heavy black outlines was and still is a big influence on my painting. Anyways when i came across this clip of a project a really cool guy Diego Bergia was doing I flipped out!
-Diego was cool enough to include me as a playable character… Here is a into clip.
*Calling all artists to support a friend in need, MAD vs. Cancer!*
Hello, my name is Sean Gallagher, a few months ago, a friend of ours, MAD kd esc nsf wh, co-founder of The Infamous Magazine was rushed to the hospital with severe pain. Only to find out that his spleen had ruptured. During the operation to remove his spleen, cancer was found in multiple spots in MAD’s body. He currently has Stage 4 Cancer, and is receiving chemo-therapy to try and fight this fight.
MAD is a self-employed artist with no insurance nor workmans compensation, and is in a major financial situation. He currently has over a quarter-million dollars in medical bills, and has to pay cash for his medications. Some medications cost upwards of $300. for a weeks supply, not even to mention the mans stress to make his rent and keep his lights on. MAD is currently in a situation that I would not wish on my worst enemy, and will try my hardest to make his hardships as light as possible.
MAD is not only an asset to the Philadelphia graff scene but has paid his dues worldwide. I’ve witnessed MAD sacrifice money and time, issue after issue to release each copy of the Infamous Magazine. A magazine that he does, not for the money, but for the love of the graffitti scene worldwide.
Due to these unfortunate circumstances, me and members of the KD, NSF, and ESC crews will be putting together a few things to try to drum up some monies for him. Here are ways you can help.
1. “Stickers & Sketches” — I am asking for artists across the globe to send me hand drawn stickers, sketches, and blackbook pages. They will be put together in packs and sold for a reasonable nominal value. The grab-bags will be available for purchase at The “MAD vs. Cancer” Shop. Among some other donations.
2. “Paintings, Prints, & Photographs” –On May 1st, I will be auctioning off all of the pieces of higher value donated on eBay, will all reserves set to sell, or set to the artists request.
3. “Monetary Donations” If you would like to simply donate a few of your hard earned dollars, you could send a check, or send to a paypal link, which will be live and available shortly.
Please consider supporting a great cause, and thank you for your time.
Please email: madvscancer@gmail.com for all inquiries.
**All donations are being accepted as soon as possible, as soon as we have enough art to get started, we will be able to begin helping a friend in need.
Peace!
The MAD vs.Cancer Crew
-Some older shit from the early-mid 00′s
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LA 99′
San Diego 05′
Paris 06′
Costa Mesa, CA. 05′
L.A. 03′
Barcelona 06′
L.A. 04′
L.A. 05′
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L.A. 05′
