Candyland in Tinseltown

I am beyond excited for Will Cotton's solo exhibition at The Michael Kohn Gallery.  The opening is tomorrow, but the show will continue through Valentine's Day.  
I've adored him for years, but just about died when his paintings were brought to life in Katy Perry's California Gurls video.  He's also very hands on.  He makes all of the delicious fashions for his models, including the candy crown and foil cupcake wrapper dress you see on Katy.

Doesn't that wedding cake hat look good enough to eat?  A walk through the gallery would be the perfect way to spend Valentine's Day, don't you think?

Michael Kohn Gallery

8071 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048

Jan. 14 - Feb. 26

The opening is this Friday at 6:30pm!

Fashion Takes Flight

One of my favorite photographers has a glamorous new ad campaign.  Alex Prager grew up in LA and was raised by her grandmother in a Los Feliz apartment.


For Bottega Veneta, Karolina Kurkova channels Tippi Hedren in a $7,000 dress with those fantastic shoulders.  A little bit of a nightmare and a lot of dream.

One of Prager's earlier photographs.

http://www.alexprager.com

Love/Hate?

Spotted!  Another Curtis Kulig tag on a mural at Wilcox and Hollywood.  I have mixed feelings about this one, because it's not on a bare wall.  It's on top of someone else's work.  I think the mural is cheesy at best, but isn't that the point in touristy Hollywood?  It's on the side of Playmates of Hollywood (frequented by strippers and couples playing dress-up) and the store paid for the mural.  Maybe they don't even mind.  Maybe it ups the cool factor.

What do you think?

The mural was painted in 1993 by Thomas Suriya. It's titled, "You are the Star."  You're supposed to feel like you're up on the silver screen, only legendary stars are watching you!  I just get an awkward feeling and the long-gone celebs look equally uncomfortable.  Katharine Hepburn looks like she's rolling her eyes, Rhett Butler appears to be squirming in his suit, Charlie Chaplin shrunk a foot or two and is using his cane to distance himself from creepy W.C. Fields and Marilyn.

Fiddle Tim

Frances Bean Cobain made her art debut at La Luz de Jesus Gallery in a group show this past Friday.  There wasn't any buzz about it because the works were shown under the pseudonym Fiddle Tim.

View more drawings here.

Of course they're all sold out.

La Adelita

La Bendita
Sylvia Ji

LA-based artist Sylvia Ji has a new exhibition of her work titled, 'Las Adelitas.'  It's named after the traditional Mexican folk song La Adelita, which you can listen to here on youtube. La Adelita essentially stands for women warriors in the Mexican Revolution.  These soldaderas (female soldiers), cared for and often fought alongside the Mexican soldiers.

The show is comprised of 15 acrylic and gold leaf paintings and two new limited edition giclee prints.  Now before you get upset with me because the gallery is in New York, I have a link to see the gorgeous works.

CLICK!

Opening reception
Saturday, July 10th
6-9pm
Joshua Liner Gallery
548 West 28th Street
3rd Floor
New York, NY 10001

Big Love

Curtis Kulig's street art spotted on Sunset Blvd. a block east of Highland Ave.

You've probably seen his art in the opening credits of SNL.  I have this poster, which I regret is sold out.

His latest one is still available, but not as cool as the others IMHO.  I recommend scouring ebay.

Strange Magic

I love art featuring gals solo, especially when something strange is happening.

April Brimer's "Strange Magic" Opening Reception is June 3rd but it's in Seattle :(
For my LA peeps, she displays some of her work with www.wandrdesign.com

Far4
1020 First Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104

check out more of her work at:
http://www.aprilbrimer.com/

Pink Lincoln

Who likes Abraham Lincoln?
Who likes Disney?
Who likes the color pink?
You're gonna love Mark Ryden (if you didn't already.)

In God We Trust

Henri Cartier-Bresson shot these images for the 1960 annual report of Bankers Trust Company. Each photo tells such a story.

This is a drop in the well of his incredible work. The French photographer was a master of candid photography.

His work is on display at MOMA until late June, but you can view more online here.

It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us. - Henri Cartier-Bresson, 1952

Joshua Petker: Between Butterflies

@JoshuaPetker is a romantic. He loves painting beautiful women. He's sometimes shy yet fiercely opinionated and a traditionalist who says thank you more often than necessary because he'd rather err on the side of politeness. This incredible artist is presenting his second solo exhibition Saturday, April 17 and I can't wait.
This is a first look at some of his paintings. Most are already sold. Let's begin with my favorite.

Partying In Red
acrylic on canvas - 24” x 24”
Up In the Clouds
acrylic on canvas - 24” x 24”

Contentment (Smoking)
acrylic on canvas - 24” x 24”

Dead Water
acrylic and resin on canvas - 24” x 36”
$4400 - available

Two Women Passing Amidst a Flutter
acrylic and ink on canvas - 24” x 48”
$6000 - available

Watch the interview we did last year when he was working on these projects!

Interested in a piece or want to attend the opening here in LA?
Contact jch@coreyhelfordgallery.com

APRIL 17 to May 5, 2010
"Between Butterflies"
Joshua Petker Solo Show
Corey Helford Gallery
Los Angeles, CA

Erwin Olaf

Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf has a passionate love affair with life - so says his bio. I love this. These images are from Elle and his Grief series.

Visit Erwin Olaf’s website

A Cool Yulia

These sweet and detailed typographic paper illustrations are by Yulia Brodskaya.
Hope you are having a great weekend. I just finished my Christmas shopping. Cheers!

Dark Dreamworlds

As an Angeleno, snowglobes are not only the most common way I view snow, it's my preferred way. That, or through the window of a toasty cabin with a roaring fire and a cup of hot chocolate in hand.

These snowglobes were created by Walter Martin and photographed by Paloma Muñoz. I'm one of those people who can't resist picking one up for a shake and then peering inside at the happy scene. But when you look closely at these works of art, there's something a little, shall we say... off.

More Pixies Please

I've blogged about TrixyPixie before, but she deserves an encore.
View all of her fabulousness on Deviant Art here.

Crazy 4 Cult

My sleeping pattern is so messed up, I'm up at 4:30am and it's my day off. Oh well.
The other day I checked out the latest show at Gallery 1988.

Crazy 4 Cult feaures different artist's spins on cult classics like Barbarella, Office Space, The Wizard of Oz, The Shining, etc.
I don't know/forgot to note who created each piece above, but the first two are by Shepherd Fairey and Carlos Ramos.
I like the doll from Office Space because I could totally use it as a punching bag. That guy was so creepy.

Click for more info at Gallery 1988's website.