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| Anonymous Graffiti 1 |
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Street Art by Iconic
Urban Artist, Banksy 2 |
Contemporary
urban art is a visceral and exhilarating movement that can no longer be
ignored. Vilified by some, and championed by others the evolution of
the art-form has a storied past. In its infantile stage the art was a
method for neighborhood gangs to mark their territories. "Tagging" was
soon taken up by street artists and art-school students who enjoyed the
notoriety and competition of seeing who could leave their mark in as
many locations as possible. As the popularity of tagging grew, artists
who wanted to stand out were forced to think big, both literally and
figuratively. This led to a flurry of sophisticated pieces covering
everything from alleyways in Philadelphia,
to subway
cars in New
York City.
By the 1980s, the sheer volume of urban artwork
found on city streets led to a crack-down by municipal officials in
large metropolitan areas. Ironically the crack-down strengthened the
movement by sorting out true artists from petty vandals. Artists
determined to express their creativity, continued their work,
completely disregarding the potential legal pitfalls of their actions.
Eventually, public officials around North America acknowledged the
sociological merit of the art form. Soon, cities began to sanction
select walls for urban art use, and artists were free to express
themselves without fear of persecution.
Today,
the curiosity for and appreciation of urban art from art-house circles
and the pop culture world at large has led to the opening of literally
hundreds of galleries all over the world that showcase the movement.
This WorldWeb.com
Travel Guide article will highlight some of the most innovative and
well-respected contemporary urban art galleries on the west coast of
the United
States.
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| The Work of the
Artist Collective, Faile 3 |
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WASHINGTON
STATE
Seattle
BLVD
Opened in 2006, BLVD is the brainchild of a group of urban art
enthusiasts that include the owners of Seattle
bars', the War
Room and Viceroy
Lounge. Nestled between the respected
pop-surrealist gallery Roq
La Rue, and hipster hangout Shorty's,
this gallery has hosted installations by artists such as Justin Bua,
Oliver Vernon and Damon Soule . Although relatively new, BLVD has
become a welcome addition to the Seattle art
community. This may be due in no small part to the
variety of collaborative projects it sponsors.
Bherd
Studios
Influenced by Picasso-era cubism and urban design, this studio displays
the work of artist in residence, John Osgood. Taking a cue from other
galleries, Osgood populates the walls of Bherd with pieces big and
small. This allows discerning art enthusiasts the chance to own a piece
of his work regardless of their budget. Recently, this gallery has
begun to sponsor shows by visiting artists.
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A
Collaborative Piece by David Ellis, Faile and Swoon 4 |
OREGON
Portland
Street
Level
Recently relocated, Street Level has featured some of the West Coast's
most innovative and inviting exhibits. One past installation included
posters and stickers from over 10 international street artists that
completely covered Street Level's interior. The gallery is also known
for their workshops, in which local artists are encouraged to create
murals on the gallery's exterior walls.
Fifty
24PDX
The Portland branch of the popular Upper
Playground offshoot Fifty
24SF, this gallery features bimonthly displays of
contemporary urban art's most exciting new talents. Past shows at this
gallery have included work by icons such as Mear One, and the
artist-collective, Faile. Fifty 24PDX also carries select Upper
Playground apparel and is located close to the popular Portland
lounge,
Saucebox.
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High-Art
Acceptance
In early 2007, an original composition by noted
contemporary urban artist, Banksy, fetched over $500,000 at an auction
in London. The sale is further proof of urban art's maturation and the
legitimacy of the galleries that exhibit it.
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CALIFORNIA
Sacramento
The
Toy Room Gallery
Highlighting punk and skate culture's contribution to contemporary
urban art, this gallery is situated just off of Broadway. Priding
itself on providing a pretention-free environment, the gallery adorns
its walls with as much art as possible. The Toy Room also sells a large
selection of clothing, vinyl toys and art accessories.
A
Bitchin' Space
Opened by local artist, Gale Hart, this gallery hosts the collaborative
works of several of Sacramento's local talent. Several artists
contribute to each piece on display at the gallery, resulting in pieces
full of depth and style. A Bitchin' Space only opens its doors on the
second weekend of every month, and always with new collaborative pieces
to view.
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An Opening Night
Gala at New Image Art Gallery 5 |
San
Francisco
White
Walls / The
Shooting Gallery
Influenced by the pop-surrealist periodical Juxtapoz, Justin Giarla
opened these conjoined galleries in order to exhibit the art he loves.
The two galleries span approximately 4,000 sq ft (1,200 sq m) and has
exhibited works by local artists such as Jeremy Fish and Ogi. White
Walls and the Shooting Gallery are located in the TenderNob district
and are within walking distance of the hip-hop influenced, Element
Lounge.
Fifty
24SF
The art gallery component of the Upper Playground urban boutique, and
housed two doors down, this gallery features monthly exhibits from the
world's most popular urban artists such as Shepard Fairey, Dalek and
David Choe. Fifty 24SF recently released the documentary The Run UP, a
film about the current state of contemporary urban art. The documentary
is available for purchase at the gallery.
Receiver
Gallery
Situated in San Francisco's Mission District beside the Blackthorn
Tavern, this gallery has a large windowed front
that creates an inviting setting for visitors. The gallery has played
host to artists such as Chris Pew and Nancy Chan. Receiver also carries
artist apparel, and hosts a weekly podcast featuring music and news
about the San Francisco art community.
Los Angeles
The
Lab 101 Gallery
Emphasizing group exhibits, this gallery can be found on Washington
Boulevard. Events at Lab 101 often contain the work of artists from a
variety of mediums, making every visit an eclectic one. Past
contributors to the gallery include California native Sam Flores and
television personality Jason Lee.
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| An In-Progress Mural
by Mear One 6 |
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New
Image Art Gallery
Since 2000, the New Image Art Gallery has showcased a veritable who's
who of contemporary urban art. Past shows have seen the all-star trio
of Faile, Swoon and David Ellis work together to turn the gallery's
interior into one massive mural entitled "The Burning House". Another
event saw the legendary Mear One create a mural on the gallery's
exterior as party-goers watched in awe.
ThinkSpace
Gallery
Established in 2005, ThinkSpace quickly dove head-first into the
contemporary urban art scene. Inside and out the space is covered with
murals by artists such as Mear, Ekundayo and the London Police.
ThinkSpace has been profiled multiple times in Juxtapoz magazine and
Sour Harvest, an online periodical.
PHOTOS COURTESY
OF:
- Nrgiza; Graffiti Stylaz; Berlin, Germany
- Matt Whitby; Banksy Stencil in Brick Lane, West
End; London, England
- Robert London; "Sinful Pleasure" by Faile; London,
England
- George Tapia; c/o New Image Art Gallery; The
Burning House by David Ellis, Faile and Swoon - Opening Night Event;
Los Angeles, CA, USA
- George Tapia; c/o New Image Art Gallery; The
Burning House by David Ellis, Faile and Swoon - Opening Night Event;
Los Angeles, CA, USA
- c/o Thinkspace Gallery; Mear One Mural; Los
Angeles, CA, USA
United States
