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    Timed Edition Print Release by Sebas Velaso

    Over the past year, Sebas Velaso have received many requests from collectors wanting to acquire works at more affordable prices. While this is difficult with the growing demand for work, Sebas has always maintained that more people should have access, than less. The artist have decided to issue a timed release print of two recent images in an effort to keep the work inclusive and accessible, while respecting the growing popularity of the very limited originals.Kalejdoskop Moich Dróg (Kaleidoscope of my ways)Kao da je Bilo Nekad (As it Was Once Before)Fine Art Print Giclee on Hahnemühle 310gsmHand Pulled Varnish Finish45cm x 45cm£150The prints were launched  last Wednesday 26th April 16:00.Over the past few years, Sebas Velasco has identified himself among the great documentarians of the transitional countries of Eastern Europe. With frequent visits to countries of former Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary or Ukraine; Velasco observes the shifting relationship between the urban environment and economical/political structures. Compositions are collaged from his own photography to create impossible yet familiar vistas, his brutal constructions become stoic remnants of a memory lost to time.It’s been a busy start to the year with Sebas on the road for research and in Studio preparing for upcoming shows including European Museum of Modern art in Barcelona and a group exhibition in China for an show curated by Sir Nicholas Penny, former director of the National Gallery, London.Ascended the the Mer Collection (Image Wasted Years)Following its honourable mention in a painting prize from the Museum of Modern European Art and a shortlist position with the Royal Society of Portrait painters, ‘Wasted Years’ has been acquired by the prestigious Mer Collection, one of the most important private collections in the current Spanish scene. The collection specialises in European and American figuration since 1980 and includes masterpieces of artists such as Eric Fischl, Cindy Sherman, Marlen Dumas, Lisa Yuscavage, Merilyn Minter, Luis Gordillo and Cecily Brown. The title takes its name from an Iron Maiden song title, a band who famously supported the British football team West Ham. The subject is further shown wearing the clubs iconic burgundy and blue jersey. Special thanks to Sergio García Bayón.Exhibition at the Museum of European Modern ArtSebas is proud to announce his participation Representational Art 2023 which opened at European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) in Barcelona on 21st April – 25th June. Cited by the Culture Trip as one Barcelona’s Top Museums, the collection is housed in an 18th-century palace, showcasing figurative paintings & sculpture from the past 200 years.Collaborations with long time friend and Artist SAINERFollowing their on street collaboration in Colombia this past December, the two artists have recently completed a canvas that has spent the past year going back and forth between Spain and Poland. With a focus on colour, we see abstract and figurative collide as Sebas’ density and depth is offset against Sainer’s bold and flat juxtapositions. Across city scapes or landscapes, cold neon or warm sun, a spectrum of progress underscores the piece. From the raw grid marked canvas to the highest saturation of colour, we are suspended in a deliberate moment of possibility for what could be and what will be. More

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    “The Olympic Ring between Apollo and Daphne” by OZMO in Paris, France

    OZMO, on the occasion of the Planète Périphérique Festival, the project organized by the RAS association and realized with the support of RIVP and the Mairie du 20eme,  had the opportunity to create an artistic intervention that develops on the exterior walls of an entire building located in the heart of the Python-Duvernois district, in Porte de Bagnolet, in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.The context and the formal features of the building inspired him for this project: it is impossible to think of painting on the main facade, full of balconies, windows and pillars, so he tried to find a solution that would make these elements become an integral part of the main subject: a huge, fiery red ring.For  The Olympic Ring between Apollo and Daphne   – this is the title of the work I made –  he then recontextualized Apollo chasing Daphne and Daphne chased by Apollo, the statues that the brothers Nicolas and Guillaume Coustou created for the park of the castle of Marly and that from 1940 are in the Louvre.The statues, designed and arranged so as to make a parallel run, are now depicted on the ends of the palace, one on each of the blind side walls, as directed in the opposite direction. They are reached and wrapped by the large red ring, shaded like a neon sign, overlooking the facade.This element, the real protagonist of the intervention, which unfolds along the two suspenders that join the balconies, is a reference to the busy périférique, the Parisian ring road, on which the intervention faces? Is that an answer to the huge advertising signs on the building across the street? Or is that a fil rouge? Does it evoke a track, a path or an orbit? And what possible link does it have to the red ring of the Olympics citeThe Olympic Ring between Apollo and Daphne offers itself to the passerby as an element of short-circuit and harmonization: between the two mythological figures, between the walls of the building, between the idea of the center and the suburbs, and between our perception of street art, graffiti and ancient and contemporary art in the urban context.The Intervention was presented on 13 April during the vernissage of the Planète Périphérique Festival, the extraordinary event that involved about one hundred artists who have created painted installations and interventions in the 3000 m2 of 21 apartments. The collective exhibition will be open until 7 May 2023. More

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    Shithouse to Penthouse – Edwin

    Scourge of London’s developers and voice of the people, Edwin, drops his debut solo show ‘Shithouse to Penthouse’ at BSMT Space.London’s development from sharehousing and affordable artist spaces to high-rise luxury apartments and hotdesk hell is perhaps irrepressible, but it at least demands comment. That’s where Edwin’s wit and words come in.For anyone vaguely literate in East London, it would have been almost impossible not to have seen and understood at least one of Edwin’s works over the past decade.Featuring a retrospective of street works alongside new art, the show is a powerful critique of the strategies deployed by developers to inflate their property values, the artists and artworks that form a part of those methodologies, the current status quo of life in London, and a balls out takedown of the rotten fucking Tories.“Sometimes my work can be an intimate conversation with myself that just happens to be highly relatable” – EdwinContained in the voice of dissent shouted by his street works is a respectful nod to the lineage of King Mob and Heathcote Williams, whilst his protest poster series reminiscent of Steve ‘ESPO’ Powers and Christopher Wool. In his confronting social commentary, Edwin asserts that art and protest are inseparable.‘Shithouse to Penthouse’, seeks, for the very first time in a gallery setting, to engage the viewer directly with the multi-faceted aspects of Edwin’s work that underpin the humanity of life in the big smoke.“Like a haircut in the height of lockdown or a man lost in his phone at the pub, these are the throwaway moments I have chosen to explore and process by rendering them in paint and laying down those connections in my memory of that time and place” – Edwin‘Shithouse to Penthouse’ opens with a private view at 6pm on April 20th at BSMT gallery in Dalston.The show will run until May 7th. To RSVP for the opening night or for press enquiries please contact [email protected].Photography credit Doug Gillen of Fifth Wall TV         More

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    Jingyi Wang “Hairdressing” Limited Edition Print – Available April 20th

    New York based visual artist Jingyi Wang have collaborated with ArtPort for her latest limited edition screenprint entitled “Hairdressing”. The print features Wang’s cactus series whereby cacti represent all creatures in nature. Here, portraiture is reimagined as she uses the strong and independent characteristic of these spiked plants to express the impact that human activities can have on nature.Hairdressing comes in an edition of 40 and measures 70 x 50 cm.The print will be available on April 20, 2023, Thursday –  7PM HK Time (7AM NYC, 4AM LA, 9PM Melbourne, 12PM UK, 8PM Tokyo) at ArtPort website.Jingyi Wang is a New York-based visual artist who specializes in oil painting. Her artworks focus on the relationship between nature and culture. Observation and perception are the inspiration source of her artistic creation. She associates the fragile with the acute, the serious with the humorous, the poignant with the longing. Cacti-human beings reflect the biological and psychological aspects of life, approaching the subtle and intimate intersubjectivity of humanity.ArtPort is a publishing house established in 2020. ArtPort supplies limited high-quality editions and prints by artists from the new contemporary art wave. Created around the theme of travelling, ArtPort aims to have people on board, offering them a journey through the art world and an easy way to bring it to their homes. Each edition is a unique and exclusive collaboration between ArtPort and leading contemporary artists.Take a look below to view more photos of Hairdressing screenprint. More

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    New Work by Saype in Ibri, Oman

    Switzerland and Oman is celebrating its 50th anniversary of bilateral relations, Switzerland is committed to closer bilateral cooperation in the field of sustainability. As part of the celebration, the Swiss Embassy in Oman invited the Swiss-French graffiti artist Saype to create a giant fresco in Oman. The work of over 10,000 m2 of eco-friendly paint was created in the country’s largest solar power plant in Ibri and symbolises cooperation on a sustainable world for future generations.The artwork in Oman was made on March 11th at the Ibri solar farm, Oman. Energy management is certainly one of the major challenges of our ever-accelerating world. Our contemporary civilization was built on fossil fuels, but today we must look to the future and seek sustainable solutions to keep the earth habitable. It is with the major environmental issues of our time in mind that I chose to paint in one of the largest solar farms in the Middle East (11,3 km²). Being aware that the solution centres around a complex energy mix and in a form of sobriety, I chose to paint this child playing with the magic of solar energy. Looking towards the horizon, he symbolizes the renewal of a civilization that must now reinvent itself to continue to grow without destroying the planet.This year, the Sultanate of Oman and the Swiss Confederation are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations. The two countries share many commonalities. Not only are both countries committed to promoting peaceful coexistence and tolerance or act as facilitators in conflicts. Switzerland and Oman also share a common commitment to sustainability. Both countries have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint and set themselves the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To reach this goal, it is important to develop innovative solutions that will transform our economy and society. Oman has a huge potential in developing solar and wind power – and Switzerland is leading in developing new technological approaches in the energy and sustainability sector. Hence, marrying the potentials of the two countries will certainly help both to reach their ambitious goals within the Agenda 2050. It, therefore, seemed natural for the Swiss Embassy in Oman to invite the world-renowned artist SAYPE, whose work focuses on these very topics, to come to the Sultanate as part of Switzerland’s contribution to the Oman Sustainability Week and express this special relationship between the two countries through one of SAYPE’s ephemeral artwork.Self-taught artist, Saype is known today for his paintings on grass, made with eco-responsible paint. Certainly one of the most publicized artists in 2019, he was notably named by the famous magazine Forbes as one of the thirty most influential personalities under the age of thirty in the world, in the field of art and Culture. In 2012, just a nurse, challenged by the revolt of the Arab Spring, Saype questions the meaning of our existence and our place in society. He begins to paint scenes in the subway in black and white, where people crowd daily, in an underground greyness well known to our megalopolises. While Saype explores a rather introspective workshop work, he has been developing a new artistic approach since 2012. Based on the premise that graffiti is diluted in the pollution of our current societies, and that, by extension, no one has any regard for them, Saype seeks to find a new way to appeal to people.Influenced by his readings, his questions as well as the democratization of drones in Europe which gives him easy access to aerial views, he began to paint on the grass. He then invented a 100% biodegradable paint and perfected a process which enabled him to create gigantic frescoes on the ground. He is now considered a pioneer of a new land art movement. Since then, these frescoes travel around the world, with a concern to appeal to people and society, minimizing their impact on nature. Its main objective is to put its art at the service of the human being, always with a concern for optimism and in a poetic way. In 2018, his self-funded project, in support of the SOS Mediterranean association, carried out in the heart of Geneva, had a considerable media impact since it was seen all over the world and by 120 million people. Following this popular impulse, the Swiss confederation proposed a pavilion for the association’s boat, then blocked on the ground and caught in the European political turmoil around migration.With this experience and this ability to mobilize thanks to his art, in 2019, Saype embarked on a project of global scope. His Ambition: To symbolically create the largest human chain in the world. This pharaonic project called “Beyond Walls”, over several years aims to pass in more than 30 cities of the world, to invite people to mutual aid, and kindness and to live together. Begun in June 2019 at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, on the Champ de Mars closed to the public for the first time in its history, for two weeks for the event, this fresco has once again left its mark. Supported by the famous British daily newspaper The Guardian which devoted 3 magazine covers to it throughout June, relayed by several hundred media and inaugurated by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, this work has been seen by 500 million people around the world.Take a look at more images below and check back with us for more updates. More

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    “Explosion” and “Pressure” by Julien Boudet at Art Dubai, UAE

    San Projects, a highly regarded production company, has partnered with Stems Gallery to produce an awe-inspiring art installation in Dubai. Featuring the works of renowned French multidisciplinary artist, Julien Boudet, the installation includes two thought-provoking sculptures, “Explosion, 2023” and “Pressure, 2023”, which challenge visitors’ perceptions of reality.Inspired by Boudet’s passion for car culture in Dubai, the two sculptures pay tribute to the iconic Mercedes G Wagon, the city’s most popular car. Drawing on Boudet’s passion for basketball and the iconic AMG logo, the sculptures explore the concepts of accumulation and compression, creating a giant counterfeit AMG basketball and playing with logos and bootleg culture, which is prevalent in Dubai.The sculptures were produced locally in Dubai, adding an authentic touch to the artwork. They are in conversation with each other, creating a unique blend of art and culture. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase my sculptures in Dubai, a city that has inspired me for years,” said Boudet. “The Mercedes G Wagon is an iconic symbol of the car culture in Dubai, and I wanted to pay tribute to it with my artwork.”Visitors to Art Dubai Mina a’Salam – Jumeirah Beach Rd are encouraged to view the installation and experience the unique blend of art, culture, and luxury cars that define the city. SAN PROJECTS’ collaboration with Stems Gallery has produced an exceptional and unforgettable installation that will leave visitors with a new understanding of the world around them. Don’t miss this chance to view two exceptional sculptures that showcase SAN PROJECTS’ creative expertise.Check out below for more photos of the installtion More

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    A New Wall by Sebas Velasco in Sarajevo, Bosnia

    Sebastián Velasco was born in Burgos, Spain in 1988. He got a Masters degree in Painting from the University of the Basque Country in 2016. Velasco started drawing when he was a child but it was only in 2004 that he began to paint in the street. He paints figurative images, mostly using oil, acrylic, spray paint and pencils.  His photographic, expressive brush stroke style reveals a precise academic technique that contrasts sharply with the rawness of the street content in his works.  In that sense, many of his canvases act as a window for us into everyday moments where strangers are caught in the act with their writer friends.  During these moments, darkness has become increasingly more important.A new wall was recently made during Velasco’s last trip to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.Take a look at more images below and check back with us soon for more updates. More

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    A New Mural by Shepard Fairey in Santa Monica

    Shepard Fairey is American street artist and graphic designer best known for his Barack Obama “Hope” poster. One of the most famous and influential street artists of the contemporary era, his works are displayed at several prestigious museums all over the world including the Smithsonian, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Artistically inclined from a young age, he attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and started his first business venture, Alternate Graphics, while still a student there. Initially he created stickers, t-shirts, skateboards, and posters, which he sold via the mail order catalogs that he distributed. Along with his friends he created paper and vinyl stickers and posters with an image of the wrestler André the Giant which became very popular and earned him considerable attention. And this was just the beginning. Over the next few years his popularity grew manifold and he became an internationally renowned figure when he designed the Barack Obama “Hope” poster during the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Even though acknowledged to be a highly creative and innovative person, he has also often been accused of plagiarizing other artists’ work.A new mural was made for The Pierside Hotel in Santa Monica.Take a look for some progress shots that Shepard and his team worked on and check back with us soon for more updates. More