Taxidermy Class

Last night we opened our 3rd Biennial Taxidermy Show. The first and second were sponsored by the Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists, and curated by Robert Marbury. These seminal exhibitions helped to change the perception of the art form and elevate the work from "crafty hobby" to fine art. This year Robert was completely occupied with putting together The Rogue's Guide to Taxidermy book but we got his blessing to go it alone and curate our own show. Still involved are several members of the original M.A.R.T. collective (and when the book is published we will absolutely be hosting a signing party), and veteran attendees will recognize some familiar names alongside a few people who are making their gallery debut.



As a sort of show-within-a-show, we've chosen to highlight the work of Ave Rose, who we've exhibited in several group shows and at least one feature exhibition. Bestiary of the Automata is solo show worth of pieces (17 total), most of which are motorized or otherwise utilize movement as part of their presentation. Check here for a video.



Today being Saturday, May 3rd, in less than an hour we'll start the Live Taxidermy Demo! Three of our artists will be working together to make a wonderful, chimerical creation live before your eyes! It's a bit of a process and we're setting aside three hours for observers. Call the gallery with information requests or to make a purchase. (323)666-7667.

More info here: http://laluzdejesus.com/the-3rd-biennial-taxidermy-show/http://laluzdejesus.com/the-3rd-biennial-taxidermy-show/

Laluzapalooza Closes This Weekend!

This weekend we'll be wrapping up the 28th annual group show. It's the most concise collection of works from multiple artists that we've shown in a long time. This in no way denigrates the stellar work we've presented in past Laluzapalooza or Kitschen Sync exhibitions–to the contrary, it showcases the heights that this year's group managed to reach.

Incredibly, some of the best work is still available:

From painterly neo-classics by A.S. Ashley, Chris Leib and Christopher Ulrich to modern pop art masterpieces by José Rodolfo Loaiza Ontiveros and album art remixes by Graham Moore, there are still museum worthy pieces to be had.

We've already decided on a few of the artists we'll be bringing back in August to showcase in the gallery adjacent to our annual Ontiveros show:

                     

Katherine Brannock
Frank Forte
Jinx
Allison "Hueman" Torneros

We'll be adding a name or two soon, and we know that Christopher Bales and Michelle Bickford will be featuring again in the next year, too. This weekend will be the last opportunity to see all these works in context with each other, so make a point to come and see the show. CBS recently highlighted La Luz de Jesus Gallery in a report on the best places to buy affordable art, and so a relatively quiet middle-of-the-month gave way to a burst of sales this week–as smart patrons become aware of how much quality work is still ripe for inexpensive plucking. 

One of my favorite discoveries in this jurying process was Rose Freymuth-Frazier, who studied with Odd Nerdrum. While I had been previously unaware of her, she routinely sells-out in her native New York. The online jpeg really doesn't do justice to Rose's brushwork, which conveys her high pedigree and training. I've been predicting that the unironic unicorn is due for a comeback, and this painting could easily be the herald.

Laluzapalooza 2014: Accepted List!

Have you seen this billboard around town yet?

It's that time of year again, and hard to believe it's already our 28th year! Oh, how time flies! Laluzapalooza is the grandaddy of all group shows in the post-pop art world. We did it first and we still do it best. But don't take our word for it, check out the roster below.

We viewed more submissions than ever before and narrowed it down to the fewest accepted pieces since our Melrose days–when the group show was labeled Uncommercial Art by Commercial Artists. There are less than 130 total pieces this year. In years past, that didn't even account for the number of artists included. There are a lot of new people, many of whom are making their La Luz de Jesus debut. There's some museum exhibited talent, and household names we haven't shown in a decade or more.

I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Without further ado, I give you the Laluzapalooza 2014 Accepted List:

Peter Adamyan
Susanne Apgar
A.S. Ashley
Briana Bainbridge
Christopher Bales
Clive Barker
Alexandra Bastien
Davidd Batalon
Shaun Berke
Michelle Bickford
Katherine Brannock
Mark Bryan
Christine Cheung
Carol Connett
JAW Cooper
Edward Robin Coronel
Matthew Couper
Jessica Dalva
Teodor Dumitrescu
Brice Eichelberger
Gary Epting
Maya Fonseca
Frank Forte
Michael Foulkrod
Rose Freymuth-Frazier
Don Fritz
Richard Frost
Arthur Giron
Mark Gleason
Derek Harrison
Andy Hernandez
Jack Howe
Stephanie Inagaki
Jinx
Susan Jonaitis
Jessica Joslin
Jason Justice
Brent Kallenbach
Jin Kim
Michael Kortez
Craig LaRotonda
Mavis Leahy
Dave Lebow
Chris Lieb
Victor Lightworship
Lizz Lopez
Didu Losso
Danni Shinya Luo
Dion Macellari
Ver Mar
D.W. Marino
Ofelia Marquez
Horacio Martinez
Aya Masuda
Albert F. Montoya
Graham Moore
Click Mort
Joanne Seohyun Nam
Cheyenne Nguyen
Ron Norman
Daisuke Okamoto
Bill Pacak
Valerie Pobjoy
Gail Potocki
Matthew Price
Charles Printz
Eric Quezada
Aaron Rivera
Dave Schonhoff
Sean Stepanoff
Deirdre Sullivan-Beeman
Hui Tan
Annie Terrazzo
Allison Hueman Torneros
Christopher Ulrich
Vega
Edith Wadell
Dave Warshaw
Misty Zhou

Not all images are posted yet, but everything that is posted can be bought now. Contact gallery director Matt Kennedy to secure your purchase.

Too Hot for Facebook: R. Crumb & Bill Ward

I posted a few days ago on Facebook and Twitter that we recently acquired a second Robert Crumb drawing for consignment sale. I was able to tweet the image, but hesitated to post it to Facebook, knowing that their draconian guidelines could result in an account suspension.

Many of our Facebook friends requested that I blog post it, so here it is:

Robert Crumb
"I Wouldn't Kick Her Out of Bed"
7 x 10.25"
Ballpoint on paper placemat
Feb. 1985
Inquire for price

Robert Crumb is the undisputed king of the underground comix artists, and drawings like this are generally auction pieces. The last piece we had sold for five figures within days of posting it, and this one is priced far below that range, so don't hesitate to get in contact.

We also have a few pieces that I added to the Black Friday page that didn't quite make it in time for that re-sale event. There are some Joe Coleman drawings, and some great Bill Ward, Robert Williams and Basil Wolverton art, as well.

Speaking of Bill Ward, here's an awesome Bettie Page color drawing from 1985. It comes with a hand-written letter that explains the unusual provenance–basically that this was done as a gift for the reclusive Miss Page and was eventually printed in World of Ward and the Bettie Page 3D Special.


Bill Ward
"Bettie Page: Martini and a Lariat"
11 5/8 x 14 5/8 in.
Gouache on paper
$3,500.00

Contact gallery director Matt Kennedy for more info:
info[at]laluzdejesus[dot]com
(323)666-7667

Bruce Eichelberger In Hi-Fructose & Hey! Magazine

Hi-Fructose Magazine recently caught up with Bruce Eichelberger in his studio to talk about his current exhibition at La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Babel.

You can access the complete article here.

Bruce is also profiled in the latest issue of the French magazine of art of pop-culture, Hey!
Bruce is currently exhibiting alongside Krystopher Sapp in Gallery I, with Juan Muniz and Jennifer Jelenski filling Gallery II. All pieces purchased this month are available for early holiday pick-up.

December to Dismember!

  Last night's Elizabeth McGrath Pop-up Shop and Release Party for her brand new Incurable Disorder book was INSANE! We had Zombie Santas and Zombie Elves, multiple original art pieces from the incredible Liz McGrath, and a signature line that lasted all night.

Attendees were season greeted with free prints and buttons, and there was a limited supply of extreme X-Mas ornaments, gobbled up by ravenous collectors within minutes of the event's opening.

Mike Odd (from Rosemary's Billygoat) and Dookie Flyswatter (from Haunted Garage) were in character all night as crachety (undead) Kris Kringles–posing with kids all night to produce holiday memories that doubtless require years of therapy.

Winter Rosebudd and a rainbow coalition of undead elves handed out refreshments by Messy Monsters all evening, and Clint Catalyst closed the evening's festivities with a live reading of the poem he contributed to Incurable Disorder.

Liz got her start here almost two decades ago, and she remains one of our favorite guests!
More pics below, courtesy of Sean Hathwell, Wendy Sherman and our gallery director Matt Kennedy.

A Zombie Elf!

Zombie Santas Dookie Flyswatter & Mike Odd

Incurable Disorder -available now!

Tonight: Miss Wu, Heavenly Bodies, and Crystal Radio Live!

TONIGHT, 8-11PM:
As seen in the L.A. Weekly! Dr. Paul Koudounaris opens his exhibition, Heavenly Bodies, and signs his latest book of the same title (as well as his previous tome, The Empire of Death). The story behind the photographs in this exhibition seems custom made for the Dia de los Muertos. Admission is free, refreshments will be served (while supplies last), and the pieces are available for purchase by contacting the gallery director at (323) 666-7667 or info[at]laluzdejesus[dot]com.



Also opening a new exhibition is Miss Christine Wu, whose Coming Home is already more than half-way sold out. Christine's oil paintings capture people in transition, making a statement about the temporary importance of our fleeting lives. A few months back, Daniel Rolnick caught up with Miss Wu mid-collaboration with master print-maker Ryan McIntosh.



Performing live this evening will be musical guests Crystal Radio, featuring Daniel Martin Diaz and Paula Catherine Valencia of Blind Devine, whose sound is reminiscent of a haunted western about ghosts and dreams, as scored by Ennio Morricone and directed by David Lynch–which should compliment the evening perfectly.





Daniel Martin Diaz will be signing his own latest book, Soul of Science, on Saturday, November 2nd, 4-7 PM.



Signed and personalized copies of Soul of Science as well as Anatomy of Sorrow,  Thirty-One Drawings & Thirty-One Days,  Mysterium Fidei, and La Luz de Jesus 25 (which Billy and Matt will be happy to sign as well) can be pre-ordered by calling the bookstore at (323) 663-0122 or emailing sales[at]soapplant[dot]com.