This should be amazing... 'World On Fire' exhibit opens Feb. 2nd...

From Travis Louie's blog:

"So the secret is out, I'm slated to paint a portrait of Trent Reznor for the 'World On Fire' exhibition that is being curated by Will I. Am, Kris Lewis, and Justin Giarla from the Shooting Gallery (SF, CA)."

I also did some searching about and found that Lori Earley mentions on her blog she is painting a portrait of Madonna... WOW.

The show consists of portraits of grammy nominees painted by artists: Shepard Fairey, Ron English, Gary Baseman, Shawn Barber, Kris Lewis, Lori Earley, Sas Christian, David Stoupakis, Joshua Petker, Paul Chatem, Greg Gossel, Henry Lewis, Shawn Barber, Van Arno, Matthew Bone, Helen Garber, Mike Maxwell, and many more.

The Exhibition will run daily from February 2nd-8th from 11am-6pm. Open to the public.

Opening Reception: Monday, February 2nd 8pm - midnight.

Sponsored by Gen-Arts, Juxtapoz Magazine, and the Pea Pod Foundation

Location: Pacific Electric Lofts, 610 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014... more on this as we find out further info.

Tons of love for thinkspace in new issue of Juxtapoz...

A full-page of opening night shots from 'Mostly Memory' with ELBOW-TOE and ARMSROCK and 'Life Sentence' with Jon Todd are included in the 'Pop Life' section...

Plus a 'Showstoppers' feature for our current exhibition 'From the Streets of Brooklyn'...

Pick up the new issue of Juxtapoz on stands now with cover art from the one and only Mars-1

New Ron English billboard at Pico & Fairfax...

In an obvious celebration of our new President, it looks like a rogue member of Ron English’s crew of billboard hijackers has successfully liberated another ugly billboard; this time it can be seen on the corner of Pico and Fairfax in Los Angeles.

The new Abraham Obama billboard resides directly over a mural by Retna and El Mac. Catch it while you still can...

*Source: Jet Set Graffiti

CommandaX interviews Imminent Disaster...

Below is a lil' excerpt of the intro to the in-depth interview just posted by our good friend CommandaX over at her blog Erratic Phenomena with NY based artist Imminent Disaster (now showing in our project room as part of 'From the Streets of Brooklyn'):

Disaster's graceful, flowing work combines the concept of impermanence, disintegration and the cruelty of time with political themes about power, poverty and the position of women in society. "For some reason I’ve always been drawn to a macabre and cynical view of the world," she admits. Yet her work, despite its gravity, isn't depressing. Rather, it has a haunting, ethereal quality that's quite rare in street art.

Many of Disaster's pieces are inspired by the sort of history recounted in books like Luc Sante's Low Life, a fascinating exploration of New York's underbelly between 1840 and 1920, but she also blends in Latin influences gathered during her extensive travels in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. "I am really fascinated by the whole South American continent and want to continue to get to know it better," she explained in an interview with NY Art Beat. "There’s a certain authenticity in their lifestyle that I think our culture has lost in its quest for commodities."

Read the full Erratic Phenomena interview with Disaster here. We highly recommend checking it out if you've a bit of time to kill as it provides some great insight into Disaster's highly-detailed and thought provoking work.

Be sure to make it out to check out her installation in our project room before it comes down on February 6th. Check out pics here, just in case you can't make it. Also, get stoked, as we sure the hell are... Disaster will be back in March 2010 in a 2-person show alongside ARMSROCK. More on that soon, as we are still in the midst of one of the coolest installs to ever grace our gallery, so be sure to swing through if you get the chance. View works from the show here.

Keep up with Disaster here.

Recommended openings to catch this weekend...

Thurs, Jan. 22nd – Sun, Jan. 25th (see site for full details)
FADA present the 14th annual Los Angeles Art Show
LA Convention Center / 1201 S. Figueroa Street in downtown LA (new location)
Featuring over 150 prominent galleries from around the globe, exhibiting for sale a vast array of art – over 15,000 works of art will be on view at this internationally acclaimed event
Full details, admission and hours at: http://www.laartshow.com/

Fri, Jan. 23rd – Sun, Jan. 25th (see site for full details)
ArtLA
3021 Airport Avenue / The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica / Info: 213.633.5361 (new location) Featuring over 60 local, national, and international galleries filling over 35,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space
Full details, admission and hours at: http://www.artfairsinc.com/artla/2009/

Sat, Jan. 24th 7-10PM
Robert Berman Gallery
2525 Michigan Ave, Space C2 in Bergamot Station in Santa Monica / 310.315.1937
“Hunting and Gaming” featuring new works from Vanessa Prager (* work shown above) and Kathy Grayson
(On view through Feb. 14th)
http://www.robertbermangallery.com/

Sat, Jan. 24th 7-10PM
Corey Helford Gallery
8522 Washington Blvd in Culver City / 310.287.2340
“Tracking The Wounded” featuring new works from Joey Remmers + new works from Devin Crane in the loft
http://www.coreyhelfordgallery.com/

Sat, Jan. 24th 5-9PM
Monkeyhouse Toys and Art Gallery
1618 ½ Silver Lake Blvd in Los Angeles / 323.662.3437
“I Heart LA Show” featuring works from 13:11, Douglas Alvarez, Catherine Brooks, Delphia, Patrick Haemmerlein, Walt Hall, Snow Mack, Misha, Miss Wendy, Smear, Jeremy Szuder, Josh Taylor, Paul Torres, Zoso and more
http://www.monkeyhousetoys.com/

Sat, Jan. 24th 7-10PM
New Image Art
7908 Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles / 323.654.2192
“15th Anniversary Show” with works from Faile, Bast, Jeff Soto, Judith Supine, Deanna Templeton, Megan Whitmarsh, Antonio Diaz, Rich Jacobs, Skullphone, Caroline Hwang, Neck Face, Jamie Williams, The Date Farmers, Kelsey Brookes, Jo Jackson, Anthony Lister, Cleon Peterson, and David Ellis – please note this will take place in the vacant space next door to their main gallery
http://www.newimageartgallery.com/

Sat, Jan. 24th 5-7PM ($8 admission)
Oceanside Museum of Art
704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, CA, 92054 / 760.435.3720 (20 miles north of San Diego on the coast) “Lowbrow Art: Nine San Diego Pop Surrealists” featuring the works of Mary Fleener, Scott Saw, Tim McCormick, Scrojo (Craig Haskett), Jason Sherry, Charles Glaubitz, Ron Wharton, Pamela Jaeger and Jen Trute - complete with wine and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres prepared by OMA’s own Culinary Arts Council (On view through May 24th) http://www.oma-online.org/

Sat, Jan. 24th 5-8PM
Patrick Painter Inc.
“I Feel Nothing” new works from Christoph Schmidberger
(On view through Feb. 28th)
http://www.patrickpainter.com/

*If you copy and repost our recommendations, please at least credit us as this takes a good bit of time, and we do it out of love and to support and nourish the scene. Please don't bite and try to pass off as otherwise. Our list and weekly e-mail of recommended openings has been going strong since 2004. Thanks!

Big 'Sao Paulo' group show coming up next month at Scion...

Scion over in Culver City will host a huge group show featuring Titifreak (image on show card above), Calma & many more that opens on Sat, Feb. 28th! More details soon...

Curated by Choque Cultural - this is going to be an amazing show!

Inked Magazine previews Amy Crehore's show with us this Feb...

The new issue of Inked just hit stands this week and inside is a great lil' feature they did previewing Amy Crehore's upcoming show with us. They reached out a couple months back to interview Amy and I and the article came out sharp. Check it out above and be sure to pick up the new issue on stands now. The new issue also has great features on Saber and Paul Booth.

Dreamgirls & Ukes
Featuring new works, an installation plus performance from

Amy Crehore

Feb. 13th – March 6th, 2009

Opening Reception: Fri, Feb. 13th 7-11PM @ thinkspace

We've posted a 'sneak peek' of her upcoming show with us here.

Also, be sure to check out Amy's blog here.

Look for an interview with Amy to be posted here soon...

A new beginning...

To a brighter future...

Andrew Hem interview + some sneak peeks at Roq La Rue show...

Andrew Hem was recently interview by CommandaX over at the Erratic Phenomena blog, and it's just an amazing in-depth read. She posted a ton of great works from Hem throughout the interview as well, so be sure to check it out here.

The works featured in this post are sneak peeks from his upcoming show alongside Stella Im Hultberg up at Seattle's Roq La Rue that opens next month...

Hem also has a great feature in Vol. 10 of Hi Fructose that just hit news stands. Check out a slightly older interview with Hem here.

Look for Hem to make his return to Los Angeles with us next year. After a great solo with him in 2007, we can't wait to welcome him back. Look for further details to be posted soon on our site.

Hem also just finished up the above gem on the streets of LA before heading over to Asia for an amazing vacation to visit family and friends.

Keep an eye on Hem over at his blog here.

Stella Im Hultberg launches new blog + sneak peeks at Roq La Rue show...

Stella Im Hultberg is busy getting ready for her upcoming show with Andrew Hem that will take place next month up in Seattle at Roq La Rue...

She just posted some great 'sneak peek' shots from the upcoming show on her new blog...

The show runs Feb. 9th through March 7th - definitely worth a trip up to Seattle!

View Stella's new blog at: http://stellaimhultberg.blogspot.com/

UP NEXT: her return solo show with us in July!

Luna Park posts her shots of LA trip / Shift feature...

'From the Streets of Brooklyn' main gallery view by Luna Park

Brooklyn street documentarian Luna Park is back in NY and just got in touch to share with us a short interview she did with me around 'From the Streets of Brooklyn' that just got turned into a lil' feature on Japanese culture site Shift.

To view the feature / mini-interview with Shift, click here.

Luna's also posted some of her shots of the Los Angeles landscape and works on the street that caught her eye (see below) over on her flickr, with promise of more to come, so keep an eye out here. She posted some beautiful shots, so be sure to check it out.

Anthony Clarkson update on 'The Silent Treatment'...

Anthony Clarkson "The Black Goddess"

Acrylic on wood (sneak peek from upcoming show)

Anthony Clarkson is busy putting the finishing touches on his upcoming show with us, 'The Silent Treatment'. Clarkson’s art has been showcased in several galleries in the United States including Thinkspace, DvA Gallery, Gallery 1988, Cannibal Flower and Copro/Nason. Clarkson was also featured in the ‘Intersections’ show at the Cypress College that took place during the spring of 2008.

As part of 'The Silent Treatment', Clarkson will be issuing his first print. 'The Organ Grinder' (shown below) will be available opening night as a limited edition giclee print. More details will be announced soon...

Clarkson’s vision continues to expand as his paintings evolve into more intense expressions of his own dark thoughts. 'The Silent Treatment' serves as his debut solo exhibition and one that's sure to get folks talking - we're super amped for all to see what he's been working on for the past several months...

Artist website: http://www.anthonyclarksonart.com/

Sneak Peek at 'The Silent Treatment' (more pics posted soon): http://www.flickr.com/photos/thinkspace/sets/72157611386044428/

'The Silent Treatment'

Opening Reception: Fri, Feb. 13th 7-11PM

In our project room (Amy Crehore will be in the main gallery)

Thinkspace

Cannibal Flower returns...

Cannibal Flower returns!!!

After taking Nov & Dec off for the holidays, Cannibal Flower returns later this month to kick off their 9th year of supporting the Los Angeles underground art scene.

Michael Pukac - this month's featured artist

This year CF will be doing every other month in order to present a bigger and more varied show. The next show after this will be the last Saturday in March - mark your calendars now.

Saturday, Jan. 31st 9PM-1AM ($8 admission / $5 as walking art)
NEW LOCATION: 821 traction ave #106
(across the street from Crazy Gideons)

Be sure to make it out as Cannibal Flower kicks off the new year in style!

Sour Harvest & Venice Grind present:
CANNIBAL FLOWER TRAVELLING GROUP SHOW & PERFORMANCE SPACE

Featured Artist: Michael Pukac (work shown above)
Beats by: Mr. NumberOnederful
Live Performance by: Pussy Galore Burlesque Dancers

Also featuring the works of:
Craig "Skibs" Barker, MacSorro, NC Winters, David Campbell Wilson, Stephen J. Brooks, Yuki Miyazaki, Azikiwe, Rebecca Peloquin, Rebecca Hahn, Douglas Alvarez, Michele Waterman, Clinton Neuhaus, Tina Darling, Jim Darling, John Hicks, Jimmy Blyer, Walt Hall, Patric Hammerlien, Shahid, Jeremy Szuder, and many more!

'Movers & Shakers' show at POV coming up in Feb...

Über-collector Gino Joukar has teamed up with the folks over at POVevolving Gallery & Print Studio over in Chinatown in downtown Los Angeles to present a killer group show coming up next month. The full lineup can be seen below. A number of Thinkspace regulars are in this show, not to mention about ever other artist currently keepin' it hot. Great lineup, so be sure to catch this one... it's on Valentine's Day too, so a great date night out!

Below is a lil' sneak peek at the new gem from Yosuke Ueno that will be featured in the show. He's got a great feature in the new issue of Hi Fructose that just hit news stands. He's getting better and better... so excited for our solo show with him next year. Going to be an amazing show!!!

Full line-up for 'Movers & Shakers' is:
Alex Pardee, Amy Casey, Amy Crehore, Amy Sol, Ana Bagayan, Anthony Ausgang, Ben Kehoe, Blaine Fontana, Brandi Milne, Brian Despain, Brian Viveros, Buff Monster, Cathie Bleck, Chet Zar, Chris Peters, Chris Ryniak, Damon Soule, Dan Quintana, Darren Goldman, Dave Bondi, Dave Cooper, Dave Pressler, David Horvath, David Lanham, Doktor A , Dylan Sisson, Ekundayo, Eric Fortune, Eric Joyner, Eric White, Erik Alos, Gris Grimly, Ian Millard, Isabel Samaras, Jack Long, Jaime "Germs" Zacarias, Jaime Zollars, James Naccarato, Jasmine Worth, Jeff Soto, Jesse Hernandez, Johnny "KMNDZ" Rodriguez, Joshua Clay, Kelly Vivanco, Kevin Peterson, Kukula, Lola, MAD, Mari Inukai, Mark Murphy, Mark Nagata, Martin Wittfooth, Melissa Haslam, Meredith Dittmar, Mia, Michael Page, Naoto Hattori, Nate Frizzel , Nathan Spoor, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Nimit Malavia, Paul Barnes, Retna, Robert Pokorny, Ron English, Sara Antoinette Martin, Scott Belcastro, Scott Radke, Scott Scheidly, Sean Christopher, Tessar Lo, Tim McCormick, Yoskay Yamamoto, Yosuke Ueno & more TBA.

'Movers & Shakers' - curated by Gino Joukar

Opening Reception: Sat, Feb. 14th 7-11PM

POVevolving

939 Chung King Road in Chinatown

Los Angeles 90012

Welcome John Antoski...

Tiki Duff Dive by John Antoski

We are excited to announce that we are beginning to work with Canadian artist John Antoski. Antoski's work has been on our radar for a bit now and he recently got some nice press in a recent issue of Juxtapoz, exposing his work to a whole new audience.

Antoski hails from Calgary, Alberta up in Canada and recently made the move to Southern California to work for TransWorld Snowboarding. He attended the Alberta College of Art and Design.

His sculptural work is super eye-catching and all his own we feel. Mad original and highly detailed, including lots of hand carving and hand-painted elements that really set him apart.

We'll be getting in some choice pieces from him throughout 2009 (including those below, available now here), as we lead into a proper show with him in 2010 (details announced soon). We're super stoked to be working with John, we hope you all enjoy his work as much as we do.

Mr. Marquis

Whipping Cream Pleasentries #1

Whipping Cream Pleasentries #2