(text and images courtesy of Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art)

 

M-City Showcase

 

New Works and a Site-Specific Installation

July 10 – August 7, 2010

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 10, 2010, 7-9pm

Carmichael Gallery is pleased to present a showcase of new canvases, site-specific gallery installation and outdoor mural project by Polish artist M-City. There will be an opening reception for the exhibition on Saturday, July 10 from 7 to 9pm with the artist in attendance. The exhibition will run through August 7, 2010.

 

Perhaps the most systematic in his stenciling process of all the artists of the genre, Marius Waras aka M-City is famed for the intricately immersive industrial cityscapes he stencils in large scale on the walls of what are often equally industrialized areas. The academically trained artist’s work is expansive in scale and scope, ranging from inflated renderings of urban forms and life-size wooden reproductions of machinery to monochromatic stenciled murals, canvases and screen prints.

M-City is widely acknowledged as an important, if somewhat elusive member of the global street art movement, yet his work is quite unlike that of his peers. The reductive nature of his pieces lends them a timeless quality, while their austere coloring of the world as a brutally capitalist yet marvelously sensible, beautiful machine evokes the Futurist perspective drawings of Antonio Sant’Elia and the Utopian visions of the early Modernists. Recurring images include monolithic cloud-scraping tower-blocks, factories, ships and other man-made structures that rise from and within unsuspecting abandoned walls. The elements of these technically complex ‘m-cities’ are taken to new heights with each successive project using a strict set of ingredients that recall the philosophy of Le Corbusier, who saw function as the basis for all form.

M-City’s monochromatic murals and canvases have graced urban and gallery walls across the world. The steady growth of his admirers, the strength of his imagery and the steadfast message contained within his work provides him with a solid foundation as he continues his efforts to strive for a visual realization of utopian urban efficiency, an effort he makes on a conceptual plane as yet unparalleled by the rest of the stencil movement.

 

Text by Andrew Spyrou.

 

About Carmichael Gallery:

 

Carmichael Gallery exhibits works by some of the world’s most exciting emerging contemporary artists, with a focus on narrative and figurative painting, mixed media and sculpture.

::Past shows::

(text and images courtesy of Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art)

On March 1 2010, Carmichael Gallery relocated to a sophisticated new space (formerly the home of Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects) at 5795 Washington Blvd in Culver City, the heart of LA's art district. 

After two and a half years at their previous home on La Brea Avenue in West Hollywood, Seth and Elisa Carmichael have expanded and upgraded their gallery base to enhance their exhibition of the most talented and exciting emerging artists from around the world.

"Life's Flavor", the premier exhibition at the new Carmichael Gallery, will feature new work by prominent Brazilian artist Nina Pandolfo. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, March 20 from 7-10 PM with Nina in attendance. Artwork on display will include mixed media sculptures, works on canvas, metal and glass, a special piece made with 30,000 Swarovski crystals, and several site-specific installations. The exhibition will
be on view to the public through April 18.

For more information, please contact lauren@carmichaelgallery.com or
visit www.carmichaelgallery.com.

New Address: 5795 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
Hours: Tues-Sun 1-7 PM or by appointment

Aakash Nihalani:: On & Off (Often On)

January 21 – February 18, 2010

Opening Reception: Thursday, January 21, 2010

&

Mark Jenkins:: Meaning is Overrated 

 



   

In January 2010, Carmichael Gallery presents On & Off (Often On), the first West Coast solo exhibition of Aakash Nihalani. In addition to a characteristically arresting site-specific installation comprised of brightly colored tape, Nihalani introduces a new artistic direction by using metal and plastic to create sculptural objects. 
 
There will be an opening reception for On & Off (Often On) on Thursday, January 21 with Nihalani in attendance. The exhibition will run through February 18, 2010.
 
Aakash Nihalani is fast becoming recognized as one of the US’s most striking emerging installation
artists. Celebrated for his ephemeral modifications of the urban landscape, the young Brooklyn-based tape specialist wields an abstract narrative of isometric shapes and flamboyant hues grounded in quiet irony and idiosyncratic precision. The fluidity of his simple, colorful style, which employs familiar shapes to produce unexpected visuals, initiates an inviting, living dialogue that traverses the chaos of city streets, the white walls of the gallery and the constancy of home. 
 
Nihalani has built a global fan base by selectively placing his artwork on sidewalks and public spaces
around New York. His squares, rectangles and cubes, which are constructed from strips of instantly
identifiable fluorescent tape, give three-dimensional qualities and a new, often humorous, perspective to the windows, doorways, cement pavement, floor tiles, chain-link fences, bricks, building contours and subway spaces within which they are embedded. Nihalani completes all public art pieces on site with little to no advanced planning. His style readily adapts to the interior gallery space and into individual works of art, thereby escaping its customarily fleeting existence while continuing to fuse his aesthetic and conceptual objectives.
 
Nihalani has fashioned a visual language all his own. The neon in his work highlights details that might otherwise go unnoticed, while his minimalist patterns form self-contained pockets which encourage examination both within the isolated space and of the world at large. His work often engages the public by creating three-dimensional environments that can be physically entered, transforming passersby or gallery visitors into participants and offering them a momentary escape from daily life. 
 
Nihalani’s recent exhibitions and projects include:

case The L.A. case & 

Simon Birch

A showcase of new works

case

The L.A. case

Carmichael Gallery is pleased to announce The L.A. case, an exhibition of new works on canvas by German artist case. This is case’s first US solo exhibition and the second time he has exhibited at Carmichael Gallery.

case’s new body of work references imagery from elaborate, self-staged photo shoots using spray paint on canvas. Combining exacting technical expertise with an innovative hint of liberation and irony, he investigates the parallels that exist between the conflicting states of convention and controversy, manipulating beauty in a dark, thrilling and provocative manner.

case is widely recognized as one of the best photorealistic spray paint artists in the world. His groundbreaking technique, detailed in the book Ma’Claim: Photorealistic Graffiti, Falk Lehmann and Steffen Petermann, Publikat Verlags und Handels GmbH and Co. KG, Germany, 2006, has set new standards and established a strong international collector base and fan network.

Born in Erfurt, Germany, in 1979, case has exhibited his fine art in  galleries in the UK, Germany and US. He achieved his Diploma in Art Restoration and Conservation from Erfurt University Of Applied Sciences. case is also a founding member of graffiti crewMa’Claim, a group of artists renowned throughout the world for their striking photorealistic murals. He currently lives and works in Frankfurt.

Watch case create one of the pieces for the show in a great video here. And watch a slide show of behind the scenes at a photo shoot here.

Simon Birch

A showcase of new works

Born in Brighton in 1969, Simon’s entry into the formal art world is singular. With no conventional training, he was encouraged by his parents to develop his early promise and, upon moving to Hong Kong in the mid-nineties, made his living as a construction worker until he had secured the means to fully pursue his artistic goals and even finance his first exhibitions.

Over time, Simon has created a deeply personal style which fuses striking figuration with abstract deconstruction. His ability to identify, shape, amplify and reduce raw physical and internal passion stems from an early interest in the works of Caravaggio, Rothko and Basquiat, but with a bold, distinctive approach that signals his importance as one of the most important emerging painters of his generation. Mesmerizing in their complexity, Simon’s works envelop the viewer and invite them to participate and interpret for themselves what lies within the rich layers of pigmentation and explosive subject matter.

From his early self-produced productions to the gallery shows that have followed, Simon has garnered enormous attention in regional and international media and cultivated a solid extended network of collectors and enthusiasts. His first showcase of works in Los Angeles will be on display at Carmichael Gallery from October 8th through October 29th.

For additional information and images, please contact Elisa Carmichael
at +1 323 969 0600 +1 323 969 0600 or elisa@carmichaelgallery.com.

Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art

The London Police

Brothers in Arms

Opening Reception: Thursday September 10 2009 / 7.00pm – 10.00pm
Exhibition Dates: September 10 – October 1

Address: Carmichael Gallery / 1257 N. La Brea Ave / West Hollywood CA 90038

Carmichael Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of all new Hollywood-themed paintings, video and photography by British artist collective The London Police. Internationally recognized for their artwork, toy design and street interventions, this is their first solo show with Carmichael Gallery.

“Brothers in Arms” is a celebration of The London Police’s ten year anniversary. The show features works on canvases, a photographic montage, a site-specific installation and a short film documenting the artists’ creative process. The show’s title reflects both the film (a social experiment about personal space and the artistic and private challenges presented while handcuffed to another person) and the brotherly friendship of partners Chaz and Bob, who have withstood a decade of adventures around the world to present their most focused and exciting body of work yet. This new series of boldly monochromatic pieces pay homage to the city of angels and the classic films of their childhood, such as “Back to the Future” and “Star Wars”. Recognizable imagery is integrated into the symbolic London Police world of smiling characters and futuristic cityscapes. Building upon successful shows in London and Amsterdam during the spring, the collective’s synthesis of high and low culture in “Brothers in Arms” allows for a greater conversation of aesthetics, psychology and globalization.

The London Police have developed a clean, distinct, and highly recognizable style over the years. The sensory thrill of their work is influenced in part by technology and science fiction, the magic of the cinema, and the empowering nature of the urban environment. Their interest in artistic identity and branding and ability to reappropriate and remix likens their style to that of Takeshi Murakami, while the iconic function of the LADS, on the other hand, is not dissimilar to Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse.

As a collective, The London Police have worked hard to balance their very different techniques and approaches to the creative process. Careful execution and attention to detail are combined with an air of enthusiastic improvisation and creative flow. Each of the pieces created for “Brothers in Arms” contains a juxtaposition and tempering of character (drawn by Chaz) and background (created by Bob). Their tools of production are minimal – black marker pen on linen – but used to their fullest potential. Chaz’ LADS have evolved from a primitive stick-figured character in 1998 to the sharp, rounded figuration that he is known for today. Bob’s dimensional capabilities and streamlined edifices stem from his knowledge of sculpture and fascination with architecture.

The London Police employ a very personal lexicon of playfulness and humor in their work. Their pieces are filled with symbols and layered meanings. The detailed elements of cityscapes emphasize Bob’s vision of the urban environment as “a living machine, a feast for the senses”, initiating an excuse to escape into a private, virtual fantasy. The LADS and the land they occupy are representative of the future, speaking to the universal human desire to communicate and stay connected to the world around them. With black and white uniforms and heavy footwear, the former often marked with a mysterious numeral, they fit into any city as if they are your new best friend. Their cheerful cocked grins and lack of gender or arms renders them approachable by all.

Marc Schiller of Wooster Collective has commented in the past about the greater psychological significance of the LADS, saying, “Chaz and I have spent many nights talking about the positive energy that his Lad character has and what it gives to people in cities all over the world. Chaz' gift is that he can freehand a perfect circle and with this as its foundation, the Lad has an incredible energy that people can feel as they walk by. It makes people happy.” Close examination of the work of The London Police reveals that the artists have created multiple roles for themselves: they are at once critics, rebels and products of an international youth subculture obsessed with consumerism, Hollywood, and all things Pop. Their unique portrayal of globalization is aesthetically pleasing in its childlike simplicity and embraces such adolescent fundamentals as subversive liberation and clandestine naughtiness with a giddy glee, however they do not shy away from the negative repercussions of mass media and the symptomatic frustrations associated with a planet where cultural exclusivity has been distorted and destroyed.

Chaz and Bob founded The London Police in 1998. Born in Chelmsford, Essex in 1977, they have now been based in Amsterdam for over a decade. From 2000, the duo collaborated with a third member, Garrett Chow, however when the group disbanded mid-decade, Chaz continued The London Police alone. Bob’s recent return to the collective signaled a new beginning in the history of The London Police and 2009 has proven to be their finest year to date.

The London Police are universally acknowledged as two of the most pivotal voices in the history of street art. A decade of activity across Asia, North and South America, and Europe has shaped an ever-growing network of loyal fans infatuated with the collective and the qualities of freedom and liveliness inherent in everything they do. Their street interventions range from tiny stickers to larger than life murals; their most significant to date can be found in Kreuzberg, Berlin on a six story building. The London Police have taken part in major exhibitions in cities around the world such as London, Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, Shanghai, Tokyo and Amsterdam, to name a few. They have also produced a successful range of supplementary merchandise which includes toys and clothing.

  
  
A Mirror Distorted 
  
Andrea Michaelsson, Candice Tripp, Cherri Wood, Pam Glew
  
  Opening Reception: 
  
Thursday August 6 2009 / 7.00pm – 10.00pm
  
Exhibition Dates: August 6 – August 27 2009
  
Address: Carmichael Gallery / 1257 N. La Brea Ave 
  
West Hollywood CA 90038
  
Carmichael Gallery is proud to present A Mirror Distorted, an all-female international 
  
group show featuring new works on canvas, paper and mixed media fabric by artists 
  
Andrea Michaelsson, Candice Tripp, Cherri Wood and Pam Glew.
  
  
Retro chic and urban grit unite in the work of Andrea Michaelsson, whose portraits of 
  
starlets and beauties exude unabashed spontaneity and sophisticated feminism. Using a 
  
lush range of acrylic, watercolor, ink and spray paint, she interprets the glamour of early 
  
twentieth century American fashion and cinema with an ironic European edge.
  
 
  
Candice Tripp has produced a series of oil and inks on canvas entitled “Fib-Lore”. 
  
The pieces illustrate classic lies told to children to discourage naughty behavior, 
  
yet which instill a fear that does more harm than good. While Candice’s subject matter 
  
and use of negative space are intentionally disturbing, her innocence and wit furnish the 
  
scenes with a burst of narrative force.
  
The floating, brooding figures in Cherri Wood’s new works on canvas are engulfed by 
  
emptiness and despair. The pairing of muted blacks and grays against stark white canvas 
  
magnifies her subtle exploration of the human form and psyche. Several of Cherri’s pieces 
  
contain quotes and dialogue culled from classic plays and short stories, providing an 
  
added narrative layer.
  
Pam Glew presents a series of pieces hand-crafted from denim, linen, and vintage 
  
Italian, Iraqi and American flags. Collectively entitled “Culture Clash”, these works depict 
  
the faces of women and children in attitudes of beauty, fear, vulnerability and power. 
  
Pam’s eclectic imagery is culled from horror film stills, contemporary Western icons and 
  
the photography of war-torn states. 
  
An opening reception for A Mirror Distorted will be held on 
  
Thursday August 6 2009 from 7.00pm – 10.00pm. 
  
The exhibition will be open for viewing through 
  
Thursday August 27 2009 from 1.00pm – 7.00pm. 
  
 
  
Please contact art@carmichaelgallery.com to preview available work. 
  
 
  
  
Andrea Michaelsson:
  
Andrea Michaelsson began her career as a photographer 
  
of the colorful characters and situations that compose urban
  
life in Barcelona. From these snapshots evolved striking 
  
stencil portraits woven into the fabric of the city’s streets. 
  
Although much of her work was destroyed following the 
  
government’s decree to eradicate graffiti, Andrea has 
  
remained an influential player in the Catalan street art scene. 
  
Based in the vibrant district of El Ravel, she and partner 
  
Ilia Mayer continue to paint both in Spain and around the 
  
world as the collective Btoy. Andrea has exhibited in 
  
galleries and events in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Mexico, 
  
Spain, UK and the US. Her prints are produced by UK 
  
publishing house Pictures on Walls. Publications featuring 
  
her work include ROJO, Overspray, Stencil History X and the 
  
book “BTOY” by Belio. For more information about Andrea and Btoy, visit thisisbtoy.com.
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