SNEAK PEEK: UPPER PLAYGROUND CATALOG

SNEAK PEEK: UPPER PLAYGROUND CATALOG
More info @ upperplayground.com

Info posted by Upper Playground:

Our Q4 Catalog is hot off of the press. Along with illustrative spreads the 88-page catalog is loaded with interviews and features on leading contemporary artists, industry insiders and collaborators coinciding with upcoming releases from Upper Playground and FIFTY24SF Gallery. The catalog spotlights our newest micro-collection collaborations with full interviews, previews of upcoming gallery shows and various special projects that Upper Playground has brewing. Usugrow, Grotesk, Estevan Oriol, Montana Colors, Jeremy Fish, David Choe, and Herbert Baglione are just a handful of the artists and collaborators featured.

The catalogs will be only be available as of November 1st at Upper Playground stores and packed in with all online orders.



source: upperplayground.com

www.upperplayground.com

FIFTY24SF GALLERY PRESENTS: REVERBERATIONS

REVERBERATIONS by Kenji Hirata and Che Jen
Hosted by FIFTY24SF Gallery

Info posted by FIFTY24SF Gallery:

“Reverberations” is an exhibition featuring new works by Kenji Hirata and Che Jen, both members of the infamous “Barnstormers.”

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 04, 09 7-9:30 p.m.(PST)

ARTIST INFO:

Kenji Hirata: Kenji Hirata is a New York-based painter from Nagasaki, Japan. His works are influenced by the Buddhist idea that “emptiness is everything eternal.” In his paintings, he fuses together the five natural elements of water, fire, metal, wood and soil, creating compositions that are dense, yet have open space. Hirata is inspired by nature, and his vibrant pieces reference Jamaican dance hall sound systems, sci-fi futurism, billboards and hand painted signage of South East Asia. From public murals, small canvases and animated works for film, Kenji Hirata is an innovative member of the contemporary art and film community.

Che Jen: Che Jen is a Brooklyn-based painter from South Korea, who was raised in Brooklyn. Growing up in Brooklyn and the Lower East Side in the 1970s “defined the visual abstractions that are incorporated into my being and permeates my personality and my work.” Her newest works are a reflection of her subconsciousness, a manifestation of the process in which ideas are born. Che Jen has shown around the world in Milan, London, Tokyo and all over the United States, and has been featured in many publications.

FIFTY24SF Gallery
248 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

www.kenjihirata.com
www.chejen.com
www.fifty24sf.com

SHINGANIST: A GROUP SHOW CURATED BY USUGROW

SHINGANIST: A GROUP SHOW CURATED BY USUGROW
Hosted by FIFTY24SF Gallery

Info posted by Upper Playground:

In anticipation of his imminent clothing line release with Upper Playground on August 1, and in celebration of his new book “Shiganist,” Usugrow has rallied the book’s contributors to action. Together, these five artists are taking over the walls of the FIFTY24SF Gallery and tearing down the house. True to the meaning behind “Shingan” - those who create based on visions spurred by the mind’s eye and those who are not affected by the opinions and expectations placed on them by the outside world - USUGROW, MOZYSKEY, TOSHIKAZU NOZAKA, BENE and JUN KANEKO are driven by the pure passion to create.

The work being presented on May 7th is a testament to those who live life for the love of art. From body art to street art, these young men have explored every aspect of the creative world. They have fought passionately for the right to express what the mind’s eye has shown them and have succeeded at every turn. Encumbered by the weight of societal expectations, they defy the prescribed life path and valiantly pursue the life of the “Shinganist.” Bringing us art born from passion, a harmonious blend of various culture’s aspects absorbed over time that still reflects a style inherent to Japan, this show will be one of a kind.

Opening reception: May 07, 2009 from 7 to 9 p.m.

FIFTY24SF Gallery
248 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94117

www.usugrow.com
www.upperplayground.com

FIFTY24SF GALLERY: VIELED BEAUTY by HUSH

FIFTY24SF GALLERY: VIELED BEAUTY by Hush
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 02, 09 7–9 p.m.

Info posted by Upper Playground:

“Veiled Beauty” is a solo exhibition by Hush, a graphic designer and illustrator from the U.K.

Hush is an urban artist who worked in Hong Kong for a number of years as a graphic designer/illustrator before returning to the UK. His popularity is soaring, with sell out shows in London and Los Angeles, along with high profile street pieces, sold out print runs and collaborations. Influenced by various facets of modern culture, he is inspired by graphic-novels, animation, graphic-design, graffiti art, urban art and contemporary painting. He’s known for his portrayal of female Manga characters juxtaposed with his mixed media layering techniques utilizing screen print, spray paint and multi-levels of paper. The confluence of East meets West, destruction meets construction, and classic versus contemporary style, all leave the viewer feeling the same conflicts and energy that his work embodies.

Hush has worked as a graphic designer, illustrator and art director in London, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Hong Kong where he worked for a few of the largest toy companies in the world. His work has been featured in numerous selected exhibitions in London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Edinburgh and Newcastle. Now and again you might still see Hush on a wall in your city.

“Veiled Beauty” features new paintings on display at FIFTY24SF Gallery from April 2 - 26, 2009.

source: upperplayground.com

www.upperplayground.com