ABOUT THE ARTIST: RELIC

The Crewest Man ·





L.A. writer RELIC blends urban style and sensibility with renaissance-quality execution. 

Staking claim to the name in ‘87, Relic found that graffiti was the spark that ignited his creativity. He found comrades in the Second To None art crew (successors of L.A.’s first graffiti crew) who helped propel his work by providing inspiration and guidance through art and expression.

Armed with the knowledge that there could be a lucrative career in art, he enrolled at Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design.

The following years brought opportunities highlighted by the creation of murals and art for numerous motion pictures and television shows. Knowledge combined with scholastic discipline provided the necessary elements to extend his skills into art directing.

In 1996, Relic and Tempt co-founded BIGTIME: The Magazine of Urban Art & Expression. Their contributions have set industry standards, gaining BIGTIME acclaim as the “Best Graffiti Magazine” by the LA Weekly.

Relic’s work has been showcased at numerous museums and galleries, including the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Smithsonian.

Graffiti art has gained worldwide attention. It extends its hand and appeals to all people of today’s diverse culture. At the forefront of this new generation is RELIC who—for over 25 years—has propelled L.A. graffiti art to the forefront of today’s urban audience.


In August 2012, RELIC will be presenting in the Crewest Front Gallery his very first LA solo show, KUYA.  KUYA opens Saturday, August 4, 2012 and will be on view through August 28, 2012.
 
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ABOUT THE SHOW: KUYA

The Crewest Man ·





KUYA is the debut solo art show by Los Angeles artist RELIC. The Filipino salutation Kuya means big brother. In this newest collection of work, Relic flexes his elder status by returning to old school sensitivities relying on color and line quality to get his point across. In select pieces, he includes hidden gems hinting to his ethnic and urban heritage.

Show Info:
Opening Reception:  Saturday, August 4, 2012
From 7-10 pm
With Live Beats by DJ Phyz Ed
On view from August 4 through August 28

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SNEAK PEEK OF ARTWORK BY WERC

The Crewest Man ·



We are excited to give you this sneak peek of artwork by WERC whose artwork will be on view and available for sale from August 4 through August 28, 2012.  Please see below for artwork information for the above posted artwork images:

Artwork Info:   

Upper Image: "LuzImix", 4' x 7', Spray paint on canvas , 2012
Lower Image: "La Maceta de Oro" , 4' x 7', Spray paint on canvas , 2012.   

If interested in obtaining more information regarding available artwork for RELIC, please email us at info@crewest.com.

 





ABOUT THE ARTIST: WERC

The Crewest Man ·





Werc was born in Ciudad Juarez, Ch. MX., and grew up in El Paso TX. Werc paints, collages and designs based on inspirations that come from urban & border culture, broad issues of labor, logos, symbols, and the nostalgic humor among immigrant cultures. He is specifically inspired by  the creative informal economies of street vendors, and the archetypal language of design. In his paintings, he explores aspects of duality and the politics of identity, hunting and gathering documentation & found objects that later become part of his creations.

Werc's murals can be seen around southern California, and throughout the United States and Mexico. His studio-based works have been exhibited in numerous galleries, the Snite Museum, Museum of Monterrey, and are part of the Cheech Marin Chicano Art Collection.

In August 2012, Werc will be presenting in the Crewest Main Gallery his very first LA solo show, MYTHOGRAFF.  MYTHOGRAFF opens Saturday, August 4, 2012 and will be on view through August 28, 2012.

For more info about this artist, visit WERC online by clicking here.

 


ABOUT THE SHOW: MYTHOGRAFF

The Crewest Man ·





MYTHOGRAFF, Werc's first solo show in Los Angeles, presents a continuous exploration of myth culture, consumerism, rituals, archetypal language and design. Werc has been spraying for 20 years and has grown in a journey with the medium by exploring, and deconstructing the spray paint to reinvent his own practice. Traditionally in spray-painting it is all about "can control," by creating artwork that is precise, defined, and clean. This is evident in Werc's "Axis Mundi" series, where he pushes the boundaries of the medium by creating photo-realistic portraits. Through his exploration of refined definition, Werc explores the opposite spectrum of control. In the "Ojo de Dios" series Werc frees himself & the medium with a loose and unrefined spraying technique, where he allows the spray paint to speak its natural language. Created with minimal immediate spray-paint strokes, the pieces are raw perceptual renditions refined by the eye of the viewer, not the medium.

The show will also feature Werc's classic style of multimedia collage, where he playfully re-appropriates commonly consumed logos to create new associations. In all of Werc's pieces there is a sense of magical realism, a hybrid existence of reality where there is a balance between the material world co-existing with the elements of the ethereal. 

Show Info:
Opening Reception:  Saturday, August 4, 2012
From 7-10 pm
With Live Beats by DJ Phyz Ed
On view from August 4 through August 28


MEXICO CITY LOVES MARKA27

The Crewest Man ·



After a successful opening night for Marka27's "Neo Indigenous" solo show featuring

artist "Problak" in the front room of our gallery, Marka27 set off to visit his native land Mexico with his lovely
wife Liza Quiñonez. 

We just got this report back from him and in his own words:

"The destination was Mexico DF (Distrito Federal). The trip was a total of five days and an 
incredible experience filled with politics, culture, ancient history, street art, graffiti, designer vinyl, delicious food and good friends with good vibes!

It goes without saying words cannot describe how amazing the experience was. It was a humbling experience seeing the pyramids at Teotihuacan, meeting amazing local artists and designers. 

Marka27 and Liza would like to thank the people of Mexico D.F specifically:
 Oscar from "Vinyles Chiles" Victor Hugo Celaya from "Arto" Art Beyond Museums, and Gonzalo from "Mammut" for hooking up a wall for me to paint on the last day. 
Thanks also to Libre, and Gato for the beers and good laughs! 

We hope you enjoy the photos and highly recommend Mexico D.F for your next adventure." 
- Marka27


 

 











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AVAILABLE ARTWORK BY PRO BLAK

The Crewest Man ·


Now on view in our Front Room Gallery, we have a very special body of work by Pro Blak.  We are excited about this body of work.  Here are a few pieces now available:


Trying To Make A Dollar Out Of 15¢
Acrylic, U.S. Coins, resin on wood
24" x 48"
$4,000


Dime Piece (Pink Squint)
Acrylic, U.S. Coins, resin on wood
18"x24"
$3,000

If you would like to view more available work by Pro Blak, click here.

Feel free to email us at info@crewest.com with any questions.


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AVAILABLE WORKS BY MARKA27

The Crewest Man ·


Available for those who want to see and for those who are interested in purchasing art, we now have awesome works by NYC's Marka27 for a limited time only.  Now's your chance, don't miss out!


Mother of Beats
Acrylic and aerosol on linen
60" x 84"
$4,500


Top of the Dome
Acrylic and aerosol on wood
36" x 80"
$4,000    

If you would like to see more available work by Marka27, click here.

Feel free to email us at info@crewest.com with any questions.

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"KUYA" FEAUTURING WORKS BY RELIC

The Crewest Man ·













Crewest is very proud to announce RELIC, a modern classic in LA Graffiti, will be showing brand new artwork in our Front Room Gallery.  Please join us on August 4, 2012 from 7-10pm for the opening reception of "Kuya".  You do not want to miss this show. 

More info to follow...

Questions?  Email us at info@crewest.com


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MARKA27 HALF DEAD BIC BUDDY RELEASE

The Crewest Man ·



Marka27 will be releasing his 8" HALF-DEAD BIC BUDDY during the opening of his solo show "Neo Indigenous" in L.A July 7th at Crewest Gallery. This final version of "Half Dead SIlver" is limited to only 140 pieces and retails for $60.
His skull head and skull arm are made of clear tinted vinyl. Marka27 will be present to sign your Half Dead Buddy so don't miss out!
 

PLEASE CONTACT US AT INFO@CREWEST.COM WITH ANY QUESTIONS

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RECLUSE: AVAILABLE ARTWORK BY AXIS

The Crewest Man ·


AXIS.HOLLYWOOD.RAT
Hollywood Rat Patrol Spray paint, acrylic on canvas 2012,   72" x 48" 

AXIS.MRS.DIETRICH
Mrs Dietrich, and the Howlin' Wolves Oil and acrylic on canvas (triptych) 2012,  22" x 18" each

AXIS.ANOTHER.SKULL

Another Skull
Spray paint, acrylic on door panel 2010,   28" x 80" 



AXIS.SYMBIOSIS 
Symbiosis 1, 2, 3 Acrylic on wood 2011,   12" x 12" each


AXIS.DAPPER.DEATH
 Dapper Death Acrylic on canvas 2012, 25" x 21"


AXIS.COLLAPSE
 Collapse Acrylic on canvas 2012, 33" x 17"


AXIS.AFTER.SCHOOL

After School Acrylic on canvas 2012, 15" x 19"

AXIS.ROSINE
Rosine Oil and acrylic on canvas 2012, 18" x 21"

For inquiries on AXIS' work please contact us: info@crewest.com

More pics on the slideshow or check our Flickr page:


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$MALL CHANGE FEATURING PROBLAK

The Crewest Man ·


$MALL CHANGE: A Solo Exhibit by Problak
Crewest (Front Room Gallery) opens  July 7, 2012, 7-10pm


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Boston-based artist, Rob "Problak" Gibbs, will also make his debut exhibit in Crewest's Front Room Gallery on Saturday, July, 7th, 2012, from 7-10pm. His new body of work, Small Change celebrates the artist's first solo show in Los Angeles.

When asked what inspired his new works, Problak explains:
"The phrase, 'a little goes a long way', inspired this body of work. I think the average person can easily overlook how change can quickly accumulate. When change comes together, it's value and power matches it's weight in a variety of ways--especially in our consumer culture. This collection showcases some change I've earned over time. I wanted to remix the value of what we accumulate and probably overlook everyday. Please enjoy the "EP" to my upcoming show. I hope you get to walk away with a small change in your point of view. Grow on flow on."--Problak

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About Rob "Problak" Gibbs
Rob “Problak” Gibbs grew up in Roxbury, MA venturing between Lenox St. apartments and Orchard Park projects. From a young age, he had a vision of beautifying the ghettos of Boston with graffiti art—an art form that is frequently over looked, under valued and misunderstood. The concept that a picture is worth an infinite amount of words inspired Rob and provided him with the opportunity to take ownership of one of our culture’s modern hieroglyphics: graffiti. He developed a vision of beautifying Boston purely by instinct, experiencing his “calling” as a young man, a child of the HipHop golden age.

The need to place social consciousness in HipHop culture is a driving force behind Problak’s creativity. His work impels the viewer to allow imagination to become a playground for testing boundaries and breaking rules. Rob is a painter, muralist and graffiti artist who was one of six urban teens to co-found the non-profit youth development organization, Artists For Humanity (AFH) in 1991. Through this innovative non-profit organization, he has been blessed with a career in the arts that has spanned decades and has been able to work as a mentor to young people in the creative process. As AFH’s Paint Studio Director, Rob applies his experiences as an academic scholarship winner, an Americorps Fellow and a Prudential Youth Leadership Fellow, to overseeing the art studios, leading the painting instruction, and serving as a key team member in AFH’s efforts to expand into neighboring communities, sharing the proven youth development model of arts and entrepreneurship training.

Problak has demonstrated a continued commitment to passing on the tools, techniques and traditions he has learned to the next generation of artists, serving as both mentor and inspiration to countless young people through his work as a co-founder and studio manager at Artists for Humanity. Rob has conducted arts/youth mentoring workshops for Girls, Inc., The Boston Foundation, Boston Housing Authority, and Youth Build, Washington, DC. Gibbs is a recipient of a number of awards, including The Goodnight Initiative’s Civic Artist Award, and The Mass Industry Committee’s 2006 Graffiti Artist of the Year award. He has also served as a guest lecturer, teaching one-day sessions on graffiti art and culture to students in Northeastern University’s Foundations of Black Culture: HipHop course.

With an extensive repertoire in several media, Problak’s work has challenged both the viewer and himself the artist, to see and celebrate graffiti’s evolution for over 15 years. His work as a solo artist and as a member of Boston’s A.L.A crew, has been seen across the world, in exhibitions such as All City Evolution, at the Fourth Wall Gallery in Boston, MA, and The Sharpie Show at Crewest in Los Angeles, CA.

Follow Problak:
Facebook.com/pro.blak
Tweet: @ProblaK
problak.com
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MARKA27 NEO-INDIGENOUS: VIDEO + SNEAK PEEK

The Crewest Man ·

All you need to know about MARKA27 and his new exhibition NEO-INDIGENOUS


Sneak Peek images:
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Marka27: Neo Indigenous
Exhibit opens July 7, 2012
Crewest Gallery
110 Winston St.
LA, CA 90013
www.Crewest.com

*Artist Marka27 will be in attendance.

More info:
info@crewest.com

NEO-INDIGENOUS A SOLO EXHIBIT BY VICTOR "MARKA27" QUINONEZ

The Crewest Man ·






Marka27 Brings Neo Indigenous to Los Angeles Crewest Gallery - July 7th, 2012, 7-10pm

Victor "MARKA27" Quiñonez brings his critically acclaimed new body of work, Neo Indigenous, to the City of Angels on Saturday, July 7, 2012, from 7-10pm. Hot off the heels of his packed-house New York City premiere, MARKA27 indulges Angelino tastemakers at Crewest Gallery (110 Winston Street, Los Angeles, 90013) with his newest mix-media exhibit. From July 7 - 29 art lovers will journey through the artist’s exploration of binding ancient Aztec, African, and Asian art forms with modern pop culture and street art.

Neo Indigenous celebrates Marka27’s highly-anticipated return to Los Angeles. Representing a shift in the artist’s cultural consciousness, Neo Indigenous embodies Marka27’s quest to bridge past with present, illustrating his yearning to bring deeper meaning to both old and new art forms. By juxtaposing ancient elements with contemporary design aesthetics, Marka27 reveals both a connection and a disjuncture in the process. Challenging viewers to confront the existing practice of commodifying art, the exhibit leaves a lasting impression-- a mark Marka27 has predicated his reputation on.

Using multiple mediums such as paintings, collectible vinyl toys and speakers, silk screen panels, and prints, Neo Indigenous is a sensory feast of the artist’s ability to float seamlessly between varying art forms. As a special treat and tribute to a city he once called home, never-before-seen works will be unveiled and the artist himself will create a live installation piece. Having worked with clients such as Pioneer Electronics, VH1, Disney, Scion, and Kidrobot, Marka27’s LA premiere is the go-to event of the summer!

About Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez:

Born in Juarez, Mexico, and raised in Dallas, Texas, Victor “Marka27” Quiñonez’s foray into the art world began in the city’s streets mastering the art of graffiti. Advancing to earn his BFA from The Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston, MA, Marka27 became a household name for his “audio canvas” series and elaborately executed installation art and murals.

Marka27's artwork has been exhibited in galleries across the United States and showcased alongside artists such as: Futura, David Choe, Ron English and Gary Basemen, and has appeared in lifestyle magazines and books such as Graffiti Planet, Burning New York, I am Plastic Too, and gracing the cover of Flux-Designer Toys. His artwork has sold through the world-renowned Freeman's Auction House.

Now based in New York City, Marka27’s quest for artistic exploration continues. Breaking beyond the canvas’ confines, he created to critical acclaim the MIniGods: Givers of Divine Sound©, a high-end line of designer vinyl toy speakers. His latest body of work, Neo-Indigenous© is a deep look into indigenous ancient aesthetics fused with street art, pop culture, and personal life experience. 

For more info, visit:

    web: marka27.com
    blog: marka27.blogspot.com
    shop: marka27.bigcartel.com
    fb: facebook.com/marka27designs
    tweet: @marka27

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ABOUT THE ARTIST: AXIS

The Crewest Man ·


 Photo by: Eriberto Oriol © ForbiddenArtLA.com


Showing in June at Crewest Gallery in the Front Room is AXIS.  

Here is a little background on the artist as well as a sneak peak image of artwork AXIS will be showing during his solo show "RECLUSE":

AXIS (born March 26, 1973 in London, England) is a contemporary illustrator/working class fine artist who emerged from Los Angeles’ seminal graffiti scene in the 1980s. He is most noted for his convoluted and hyper-stylized freehand characters.
 
As a child, Axis moved from London to Los Angeles with his family and developed a number of musical and artistic influences including Mozart, Black Sabbath, Frank Frazetta, Rick Griffin, Black Flag, Norman Rockwell, and even Monty Python’s Flying Circus. An early convert to skateboarding and punk rock, Axis began experimenting with graffiti art in 1985, and joined L.A.’s legendary CBS Crew in 1988. By the mid-90’s he had cemented his reputation as one of the most prolific street artists working in Los Angeles. Though his career has largely unfolded outside of the graffiti landscape, his skate-punk origins continue to shape his engorged aesthetic and politicized black humor.



In addition to his artwork, Axis is also widely known as a musician. Having received formal music training (harpsichord, cello, piano) at a young age, Axis formed Los Angeles hard-core/Metal band “The Pain” (lead guitarist, songwriter) in 2004. He has recorded two full-length albums and has toured Europe and the United States.  
 
Axis lives in Los Angeles, California where he continues to paint, and play music everyday. And he skates when he can.

To see more of Axis’ work, check out www.stylepig.com.


Artwork by AXIS will be on display June 14 through July 1 at Crewest.  Please email us at info@crewest.com with any questions.

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VOICE OF ART - STREET ART VS. ILLEGAL BILLBOARDS

The Crewest Man ·

This is an excellent video series produced by one of our good friends:
John Carr and directed by Z.S. Grant.

It features many of our local artist friends speaking up against the proliferation of illegal billboards throughout the City of L.A. Looking forward to more episodes in the future!

In the meantime, sit back and check these out:

PART 1:


PART 2:


PART 3:



Follow Pharrel Williams' I AM OTHER for more to come...

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