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Reasonable Expectations
New Works by Jay Ryan
July 8-August 7, 2016
Join us the evening of Friday, July 8, 7-10pm for the opening of a new main gallery exhibit by Chicago-based artist Jay Ryan, plus works by Ben Chlapek (Never Sleeping).
Jay Ryan is a Chicago-based illustrator and musician. He learned to screenprint beginning in 1995, working with Steve Walters at Screwball Press. In 1999, Jay started The Bird Machine print shop, making posters for bands around the world.
This is Jay's fourth exhibit at Rotofugi Gallery after previous exhibits in 2010, 2011 and 2014. We're super excited and honored to be hosting Jay in our gallery again.
Joining Jay in the main gallery is Ben Chlapek (aka Never Sleeping). Ben is a freelance illustrator/designer/printer located in Chicago, IL. Most of his work is created with pen and ink on paper, then sometimes manipulated slightly and colored digitally to produce the desired result. Ben enjoys old signs painted by hand, club soda and analog audio recording techniques.
Join our gallery previews email list at http://previews.rotofugi.com
Magical Girls
New Works by Brett Manning
July 8-August 7, 2016
Join us the evening of Friday, July 8, 7-10pm for the opening of a side gallery exhibit by Indiana-based artist Brett Manning.
We're excited to share this wonderful collection of paintings and prints with you from a talented new addition to our roster of exhibiting artists.
Here's some words from Brett about the exhibit:
I created this group of work based on real people I know, admire, or see online almost everyday. These girls range in exceptional talents; some are painters, musicians, teachers, or fashionable in unique and inspiring ways, and others are just kind, commendable souls who encourage me and others to keep creating. Magical Girls do what they want and live to spread positivity. They are open minded, humble, and seek no approval. They are kind to each other, but also have the strength and wisdom to know when and when not to fight.
The girls I have drawn and painted have been elevated to magic wielding super humans. They might be awkward, eat all the cupcakes, drink too much coffee, have crooked smiles, be shy to a fault, or trip over their own feet, but they all harbor something immensely powerful and otherworldly within.
This collection was also heavily inspired by my love of anime, especially Sailor Moon and her fantastic, supportive squad of scouts. Mixing all that with vibrant pastel colors, patterns, and subtle symbolism developed from my own personal mythologies, this series has a very dream-like, idealist, and undoubtably sentimental feeling. But for me, sentiment, passion, and intimacy are themes I enjoy depicting. They are also themes that tend to be bashed for being "too feminine" or having no place in the world of "high art" … and that's exactly why I strive to paint them.
This collection is dedicated to all the real life Magical Girls in the world.
– Brett Manning, 2016
Sign up for our gallery previews email list at http://previews.rotofugi.com
Nihon Dream
New Works by Jeremiah Ketner
June 10-July 3, 2016 in the Rotofugi Main Gallery
Join us the evening of Friday, June 10, 7-10pm for the opening reception of Nihon Dream, New Works by Jeremiah Ketner. We'll have snacks, beverages and music by DJ Sean Doe and the artist will be in attendance to chat with fans.
Sign up for our gallery previews email list at http://previews.rotofugi.com
About the Artist
Jeremiah Ketner's paintings are instantly recognizable amongst his contemporaries in the pop surrealism movement. His early work, characterized by mischievous sprites and whimsical patterns, has evolved into lush, richly colored environments inhabited by a cast of pensive, dreamy young women. Each character presents a unique brand of beauty, created entirely within Jeremiah's imagination and painted completely from memory.
The sprites (which grace the walls of Nordstrom department stores nationwide) still appear as inspiration for custom wooden and vinyl toys. Bringing a three-dimensional surface to life is one of Jeremiah's favorite challenges; the intricate, colorful one-of-a-kind creatures are immensely popular amongst his collectors.
Beyond the designer toy phenomenon, other aspects of Japanese culture — the fabrics and motifs, the meticulous taming of and tending to nature — provide an ever-flowing spring of insight, and Jeremiah travels there as often as possible. "I love the gardens," he says. "They do an amazing job of taking a small space and making it feel like a large environment."
During one trip to Tokyo he observed, "Design in Japan is small and round," which became his mantra of sorts, an enigmatic interpretation of his overall aesthetic. "It loosely describes work from long ago, but I guess it's more of a pen name," says Jeremiah, whose Internet-savvy fans know to look for his "smallandround" persona for frequent updates and photographs of new art.
Jeremiah's pop culture-inspired style and unconventional creations have a traditional foundation. With his family's encouragement, he began formal art studies at the age of 12. He holds a BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design and an MFA from Southern Illinois University. Jeremiah's paintings and toys have been featured in solo and group exhibitions galleries across North America and internationally.
Return to Carrara
New Works by Noferin
June 10-July 3, 2016 in the Rotofugi Side Gallery
Join us the evening of Friday, June 10, 7-10pm for the opening reception of Return to Carrara, New Works by Noferin. We'll have snacks, beverages and music by DJ Sean Doe.
Sign up for our gallery previews email list at http://previews.rotofugi.com
About the Artists
Noferin (Candy and Nick Robertson) are a wife-and-husband team who love to create. From whimsical paintings, drawings, design and art direction, to writing and illustrating children’s books, Candy and Nick’s creations come in many forms.
Their distinctive style of art and design has led them to exhibit in leading galleries through the USA, Canada and Australia. Their artwork and toy designs have been features in numerous publications such as Hello Kitty, Hello Art (Abrams), Pictoplasma, The Garden of Eye Candy, The Sourcebook of Contemporary Illustration (Collins Design), Dpi, Monument, Hi-Fructose and Juxtapoz; are sold in museums, galleries and pretty shops; and have also been featured alongside Hello Kitty, Hot Wheels and on TV commercials for Orville Redenbacher Popcorn and the NFL.
Candy and Nick live amongst tall trees, hidden valleys and treasure-filled beaches on the Mornington Peninsula, Australia. They make most of their creations in the cooler months.
We've had one of Mike Bell's paintings, purchased from DvA Gallery before we merged operations with them, hanging in our living room for the better part of the last decade. It remains, to this day, one of our favorites.
Having lived with Mike's art so closely I'm not entirely sure why we haven't done an exhibit with him before now, but I'm happy to say we'll be making up for lost time with a full gallery solo exhibit by this talented Atlantic City, New Jersey-based artist!
Join us the evening of Friday, May 13, 7-10pm for the opening of Robots Are Go!, New Works by Mike Bell.
Born and raised at the Jersey Shore, Mike Bell’s artwork blends an aura of nostalgia and humor, combined with vivid color and a combination of influences. Iconic New Jersey images, vintage toys, punk rock, classic monsters, Japanese cartoons and carnival imagery are among the cultural forces that have shaped his art. The juxtaposition of counterculture with modern day influences are the blueprint for Bell’s
canvases. His paintings have broad powerful strokes but small details are not to be overlooked. This leaves a hazy distinction between cartoony and illusionistic. The outcome is a world where the weird is wonderful and the inhuman is alive.
His artwork has been shown in galleries throughout the world, primarily in the U.S. but recently in Ontario and Frankfurt, Germany. He was featured in the recently published book Edgy Cute by Mark Batty Publishing, New York. Mike’s “matchbook art” is currently touring the Ripley’s “Believe it or Not” Museums.
Mike will be in attendance at the opening so stop by and chat with him while listening to tunes spun by DJ Sean Doe and snacking on free cookies!
Exhibit continues through June 5, 2016.
