“GATS is known to many as a floating face, with jaded, droopy eyes and a long, dreaded beard. The iconic mask he paints is ubiquitous in the streets of the East Bay, and can be found on walls all over the world as well.
On May 9, the enigmatic graffiti artist’s work will also be on view at Hashimoto Contemporary (804 Sutter St., San Francisco) for his first solo show — Drifting Forest — in the gallery. Partially, the title of the show comes from the fact that GATS did most of the paintings included on found driftwood.
More than an aesthetic choice, the material of GATS’ panels and wooden sculptures are a testament to the deterioration of nature. “These skeletons of the forest are sacred as I mourn in the graveyard that is urban sprawl,” he wrote in an email interview.
Although GATS’ work is mainly found on city walls, this is a rare chance to see the artist’s potential when given more time and material options. In his new works, he abstracts recognizable features of the mask he paints, and rearranges them to form new compositions while staying true to the visual language he has developed.
There will undoubtedly be a line around the block for the opening of the show on May 9 from 6–10 p.m. Look for the full interview with GATS in next week’s Express.”
— Sarah Burke, East Bay Express
Opening reception Saturday May 9th, 2015 – 6pm to 10pm
Hashimoto Contemporary 804 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA
1AM Gallery
1000 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103 www.1AMSF.com
Übermensch A solo show of works on canvas
Opening Reception: Friday, July 5th, 2013, 6:30 – 9:30pm Show Dates: July 5th through August 3rd
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – 1AM is pleased to present, “Übermensch”, a solo show by Ales “BASK” Hostomsky that opens July 5th from 6:30-9:30pm. “Ubermensch” will showcase works depicting children painted as superheroes on found and weathered surfaces that exhibit an energetic urban art aesthetic. The term “Ubermensch”, coined by Friedrich Nietzsche, refers to a state of being super-human; a state which Nietzsche believed mankind should strive to obtain. Expect to see a mix of iconic comic book imagery and playful representations of children upon panels and box frames.
During his childhood, the idea of God as a form of salvation seemed like a foreign concept, but the thought of becoming a super-man seemed obtainable or, at least, something worth striving for. BASK’s highly textural works of child-like figures upon layered, urban backdrops with vibrant comic book iconography recall the fantastical imaginings of his youth.
Bask’s work has appeared in countless publications in both advertising and editorial capacities. He has been shown in the Florida International Museum as well as the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art, which also has his work in its permanent collection. In addition to doing work for Death Cab For Cutie, Primus, and RIDE Snowboards, he was recently commissioned for a series of canvases for the backdrop in Iron Man 3.
A Counterpoint to the term “Sky’s the Limit”, referring to the idea that it’s always possible to Work beyond boundaries. The statement “Style is the Limit‘l addresses the need for an artist to recognize that boundaries and limitations exist in any chosen art form and that artists need to have boundaries in order to develop a style. Aryz argues that in reality, artists are subject to the boundaries implicit in their chosen technique and that these boundaries are the critical factor informing the way that their style and it’s individuality, is perceived by the viewer.
Aryz[pronounced ar-eez] is a young artist hailing from Barcelona, Spain, where he moved from Palo Alto, California, when he was a Child. He has achieved Widespread acclaim in recent years, due in part to his artwork being featured on Aesop Rock’s recent album “Skelethon” and a recent January 2013 Cover and editorial featured in Juxtapoz magazine.
Perhaps most astonishing of all, a string of stunning large-scale Contemporary murals across Europe, South America and North America. Aryz has been regarded by some as a transformative figure in Contemporary muralism, an artist who has taken the ideals of heavy metal illustration and a legacy of European street art and Combined them into a completely new and unique form 0f public art. He returns to the Bay Area, the place where it all started, for his highly anticipated sequel time Showing at FIFTY24SF GALLERY.
LOCATION: FIFTY24SF Gallery,218 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94117 WHEN: April 19th at 7PM free admittance