Several of the early exhibits we did as a gallery, starting nearly 20 years ago now, were by plush (or if you prefer the more intellectual terminology, soft sculpture) artists. We love the versatility and creativity we see in this often overlooked category, so when the brilliant artist behind Huggable Koi reached out, we jumped at the opportunity to host an exhibit!
Combining quilting techniques and a love of koinobori (Japanese carp flags), Bonnie Robinson Stewart has developed a beautiful intricate style over the past decade. For her Rotofugi Gallery debut she has gone beyond — way beyond — koi and is bringing a mix of kaiju, cryptids, and other creatures all lovingly shaped and stitched into beautiful, huggable plush!
Join us the evening of Saturday, May 18 to view the new work while grooving to a new mix by DJ Sean Doe! Huggable Koi creator Bonnie Robinson Stewart will be in attendance to chat with attendees, plus we'll also have new works by illustrator Michael Fleming (aka Tweedlebop) on display.
Absolute Creatures
Soft Sculpture by Bonnie Robinson Stewart (Huggable Koi)
May 18-June 9, 2022
Opening Reception
Saturday, May 18, 6-8pm
New Mix by DJ Sean Doe
Free — All Ages — BYOB
Rotofugi — 2780 N Lincoln Ave — Chicago
About the Artist
Bonnie Robinson Stewart is a designer toy/soft sculpture artist who has been creating and displaying her art for nearly 10 years. Her first plushies were koi created by combining her self taught quilting skills and love of koinobori (Japanese carp flags). She has lived in the Los Angeles area her entire life and currently lives in Glendora, CA with her partner, Bill, and two cats, Audrey and Roswell.
We are thrilled to welcome back one of our most frequent exhibitors, Milwaukee-based artist James 'Jimbot' Demski for a new solo exhibit opening in just one week!
Jimbot returns after taking a nearly two year hiatus from making art — two years spent addressing health issues that have necessitated new ways of working and a bit of an artistic evolution. Many of Jimbot's newer paintings are bigger and looser than before, and there's a renewed focus on building his amazing wooden figural creations, which have evolved as well...all in all, a very exciting return that we can't wait to share with you!
Join us the evening of Saturday, April 13, 6-8pm for the opening reception to meet Jimbot and groove to a live set by DJ Sean Doe while you browse the artwork! Complimentary soft drinks and water provided, byob.
Method for Panic Attacks
New Works by James 'Jimbot' Demski
April 13-May 12, 2024
Opening Reception
Saturday, April 13, 6-8pm
DJ Sean Doe — Free — All Ages — BYOB
Jimbot Will Be in Attendance
Rotofugi — 2780 N Lincoln Ave — Chicago
Open Daily 10am-6pm — An LGBTQ+ Safe Space 🏳️🌈
About the Artist
James Demski is a Milwaukee-based artist also known by the moniker “Jimbot.” His art takes you into other worlds where the unusual can happen, beauty is around us, and your daydreams can become a reality. What exactly is happening is often left up to the viewer’s interpretations and how they view the clues left behind by the artist. He creates these worlds to escape to, and for the viewers to enjoy. James uses acrylic paint, dry transfer letters, pencil and ink to convey his thoughts, and wants the viewer to enjoy them as much as he enjoyed painting them.
This is Jimbot's seventh solo show at Rotofugi.
Join us this Saturday for the opening of our next exhibit featuring Chicago-based artist Jeff Pak! Jeff is one of those artists that we have had in a couple group exhibits in the past but we were overdue on mounting a solo exhibit of his work. Time to fix that!
A prolific creator that is equally adept at working on canvas as he is at working on the street, where his work is typically signed with the tag "JPak4Ever," Jeff has created 30 new paintings for "Little Bit of Everything." From his more recent explorations of kawaii anime-style portraits to canvases filled with piles of character doodles, the show definitely has a little bit of everything.
Join us this Saturday, March 16, 6-8pm for the opening reception to meet the artist and listen to a live set by DJ Sean Doe while you check out the art!
We do anticipate *actually* sending out a preview of this exhibit for online sales sometime Friday, so sign up at https://previews.rotofugi.com to get notification when works are available.
The exhibit continues through April 7.
Little Bit of Everything
New Works by Jeff Pak
March 16-April 7, 2024
Open Daily 10am-6pm
Opening Reception
Saturday, March 16, 6-8pm
Music by DJ Sean Doe
BYOB
Rotofugi — 2780 N Lincoln Ave — Chicago
About the Artist
Jeff Pak is a Chicago based multidisciplinary artist who dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. When he isn’t busy experimenting with kimchi in tacos, he navigates the world of images like a yard sale; constantly trying to decipher what to keep, sell, and throw out. His early love of cartoons and comics heavily influence his art. Currently he is fixating on the séance of sexy and funny and whether there is a difference between the two to begin with.
One of the many joys of showing art is watching an artist grow and change and, once in awhile, emerge.
This month, we feature an artist that we've known for most of the time we've had Rotofugi — as a matter of fact, we've known Brain Killer since before he was Brain Killer! It's been an absolute joy watching our friend evolve into a skilled muralist and painter, and it is an honor to be hosting their very first solo(-ish) exhibit!
Joining Brain Killer, at their invitation, are six additional Chicago-based artists: Shawnimals, Angel Onofre, Don Mega, Alisa Duda, China Cat 663, and (Sub)urban Warrior.
Join us in celebrating and supporting local artists the evening of Saturday February 17, 6-8pm for an Opening Reception with music by Bryson K. BYOB.
Bugz and Crypts
New Works by Brain Killer & Gang
February 17-March 10, 2024
Open 10am-6pm Daily
Opening Reception
Saturday, February 17, 6-8pm
Music by Bryson K
BYOB
To be notified when works from this exhibit are available for online purchase signup at https://previews.rotofugi.com
About the Artist
Brain Killer is a Chicago-based creative director and multimedia producer working in advertising. When he’s not making commercials he’s creating his special brand of lowbrow art or pop surrealism, depending on how fancy he’s feeling that day.
Originally started as an experimental film project, Brain Killer has moved from creating videos under the moniker and transitioned it into a personal outlet for design, painting, and mural work. But who knows? Maybe those weird little videos might creep back soon!
Brain Killer is heavily influenced by “geek culture” including sci-fi, horror, video games, animation and comic books — themes that are evident throughout his work.
We're kicking off a new year of exhibits with a solo show by an artist we've long admired...it's Betso!
Betso, also known as Bil BetsOviC, is a name that is probably really familiar to you if you've been around the designer toy scene for long. A self-taught artist from Las Vegas (currently based in Salt Lake City, Utah) with interests in cartoons, graffiti, and animals, Betso started appearing in custom toy shows in 2006 and has consistently produced some amazing customs for the last 18 years. A design by Betso, based on one of his customs, was featured in Kidrobot's 2011 Dunny Series.
For the past several years Betso has focused primarily on traditional media and murals (along with an occasional custom toy) and has been exploring various aspects of pop culture icons in an evolution of style and technique that has become increasingly abstract. For his solo show with us, Betso is presenting "Full Circle," a series of 38 acrylic and resin on wood paintings (all circular) that feature his most ambitious abstractions of pop culture icons to date!
This series seems, to us, to be as much about about exploring the style and visual iconography associated with cartoon characters as it is about the characters themselves — the result is a really mesmerizing series of fun new works that look like they could be cartoon characters from another world — perhaps one that is fond of hallucinogenics, lol!
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Full Circle
New Works by Betso
January 13-February 11, 2024
Open 10am-6pm Daily
Please Note: We are currently behind on online listings for our gallery exhibits and, as such, there will not be an online preview for this exhibit...however, if you sign up at previews.rotofugi.com you *will* receive an email notification when works from this and our previous three exhibits are available for online purchase.
