We were very excited to
see that Bherd Studios made it in the "A Guide to Urban Art Galleries..."
from
WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
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Anonymous Graffiti
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Street Art by Iconic Urban Artist, Banksy
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With new galleries opening with the explicit purpose of
displaying it, contemporary urban art is a visceral and exhilarating
movement that can no longer be ignored. Vilified by some, and
championed by others, the evolution of the art-form has a storied
past. In its infantile stage the art was a method for neighborhood
gangs to mark their territories. "Tagging", was soon taken up by
street-artists and art-school students who enjoyed the notoriety and
competition of seeing who could leave their mark in as many
locations as possible. As the popularity of tagging grew, artists
who wanted to stand out were forced to think big; both literally and
figuratively. This led to a flurry of sophisticated pieces that
covered everything from alleyways in
Philadelphia, to
subway cars in
New York City.
By the 1980s, the sheer volume of urban artwork found on city
streets led to a crack-down by municipal officials in large
metropolitan areas. Ironically the crack-down strengthened the
movement by sorting out true artists from petty vandals. Artists
determined to express their creativity, continued their work,
completely disregarding the potential legal pitfalls of their
actions. Eventually, public officials around
north America
acknowledged the sociological merit of the art-form. Soon, cities
began to sanction select walls for urban art use, and artists were
free to express themselves without fear of persecution.
Today, the curiosity and appreciation of urban art from art-house
circles and the pop-culture at large, has led to the opening of
literally hundreds of galleries all over the world. This
WorldWeb.com Travel Guide will highlight some of the most
innovative and well-respected contemporary urban art galleries on
the west coast of the
United States.
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The Work of the Artist Collective, Faile
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WASHINGTON STATE
Seattle
BLVD
Opened in 2006, BLVD is the brainchild of a group of urban art
enthusiasts that include the owners of
Seattle bar's, the
War Room and
Viceroy Lounge. Nestled between the respected pop-surrealist
gallery
Roq La Rue, and hipster hangout
Shorty's, this gallery has hosted installations by
artists such as Justin Bua, Oliver Vernon and Damon Soule .
Although, relatively new, BLVD has become a welcome addition to the
Seattle
art community, this may be due in no small part to the
variety of collaborative projects it sponsors.
Bherd Studios
Influenced by Picasso-era cubism and urban design, this studio
displays the work of artist in residence, John Osgood. Taking a cue
from several pop-surrealist collectives Osgood populates the walls
of Bherd with pieces big and small. This allows discerning art
enthusiasts the chance to own a piece of his work regardless of
their budget. Recently, this gallery has begun to host installations
by guest artists.
Experience Music Project
Acknowledging its contribution to the rise and cultivation of
Hip-Hop, the
EMP's
installation,
Yes Yes Y'all: The First Decade of Hip-Hop features a
special section on urban art. Contained in the exhibit are artifacts
such as an original sketch-pad from urban art pioneer Lady Pink, as
well as several examples of artwork found on
New York City
subway cars and block-party posters. This exhibit will be on display
until May of 2008.
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A Collaborative Piece by David Ellis, Faile and Swoon
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OREGON
Portland
Street Level
Recently relocated, Street Level has featured some of the west
coast's most innovative and inviting exhibits. Showcasing both local
and international artists, past installations have included the
wallpapering of the interior of the the gallery with posters and
stickers from over 10 international street artists as well as a
collaborative effort that led to the exterior of Street Level being
completely engulfed by the work of several artists.
Fifty 24PDX
The Portland branch of the popular
Upper Playground offshoot
Fifty 24SF, this gallery features bimonthly displays of
contemporary urban art's most exciting new talents. Past shows at
this gallery have included work by icons such as Mear One, and the
artist-collective, Faile. Fifty 24PDX also carries select Upper
Playground apparel and is located close to the popular
Portland cafe and lounge,
Saucebox.
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High-Art Acceptance
In early 2007, an original composition by noted
contemporary urban artist, Banksy, fetched over $500,000 at
an auction in
London. The sale is further proof of urban art's maturation
and the legitimacy of the galleries that exhibit it.
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CALIFORNIA
Sacramento
The Toy Room Gallery
Highlighting Punk and Skate culture's contribution to contemporary
urban art, this gallery is situated just off of Broadway. Priding
itself on providing a pretentious-free environment, the gallery is
the perfect placefor novice art enthusiasts to begin their
education. The Toy Room features monthly exhibits as well as
commercial space selling a variety of art supplies such as
spray-paints and caps.
A Bitchin' Space
Opened by local artist, Gale Hart, this gallery hosts the
collaborative works of several of
Portland's
local talent. Several artists contribute to each piece on display at
the gallery, which results in pieces full of depth and style. A
Bitchin' Space only opens its doors on the second weekend of every
month, and always with new collaborative pieces to view.
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An Opening Night Gala at New
Image
Art Gallery
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San Francisco
White Walls /
The Shooting Gallery
Influenced by the pop-surrealist periodical Juxtapoz, Justin Giarla
opened these conjoined galleries in order to exhibit the art he
loves. The two galleries span approximately 4,000 sq ft and has
exhibited works by local artists such as Jeremy Fish and Ogi. White
Walls and the Shooting Gallery are located in the TenderNob district
and is within walking distance to the hip-hop influenced,
Element Lounge.
Fifty 24SF
The art gallery component of the Upper Playground urban boutique
-housed two doors down- this galleryfeatures monthly exhibits from
the world's most popular urban artists such as Shepard Fairey, Dalek
and David Choe. Work on display at this gallery can be purchased
on-site or at their website.
Receiver Gallery
Situated in
San Francisco's
Mission District beside the
Blackthorn Tavern, this gallery has a large windowed
front that creates an inviting setting for visitors to enjoy. The
gallery has played host to artists such as Chris Pew and Nancy Chan.
Receiver also carries artist apparel, and hosts a weekly podcast
featuring music and news about the San Francisco art community.
Los Angeles
The Lab 101 Gallery
Emphasizing group exhibits, this gallery can be found on
Washington Boulevard. Group exhibits at 101 often contain the work
of artists from a variety of mediums, which makes every visit to the
gallery an eclectic one. Past contributors to this gallery include
California
native Sam Flores, and television personality Jason Lee.
New Image Art Gallery
Since 2000, the
New
Image Art Gallery has been showcasing a veritable who's who of
contemporaryurban art. Past shows have included collaborative
installations by the all-star trio of Faile, Swoon and David Ellis,
the work of Brazilian trailblazer, Herbert Baglione and a special
outdoor live-mural-painting event by Mear One.
ThinkSpace Gallery
Established in 2005, ThinkSpace has dove head-first into the
contemporary urban art scene. Inside and out the space is covered
with murals by artists such as Mear, Ekundayo and the London Police.
ThinkSpace has been profiled multiple times in Juxtapoz magazine and
Sour Harvest, an online periodical.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
1.
Nrgiza; Graffiti Stylaz;
Berlin, Germany
2.
Matt Whitby; Banksy Stencil in
Brick
Lane, West End; London, England
3.
Robert London; "Sinful Pleasure" by Faile;
London, England
4.
George Tapia; c/o New Image Art Gallery; The Burning House
by David Ellis, Faile and Swoon - Opening Night Event;
Los
Angeles, CA, USA
5.
George Tapia; c/o New Image Art Gallery; The Burning House
by David Ellis, Faile and Swoon - Opening Night Event;
Los
Angeles, CA, USA
6.
c/o Thinkspace Gallery; Mear One Mural;
Los
Angeles, CA, USA
