Introducing EXHIBITION 009: UNDER PRESSURE
Jasmine Monsegue in Studio
BEYOND THE STREETS & CONTROL Gallery are pleased to announce EXHIBITION 009: UNDER PRESSURE, a group exploration of contemporary airbrush, curated by Mister CARTOON — a master of airbrush in a multitude of applications —and featuring a roster of eclectic artists renowned for expanding on the medium’s past applications in a refreshing and conceptual way.
UNDER PRESSURE takes into account the historic significance and evolution of airbrush, bringing to life a show that highlights 16 artists from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and career positionings, each of which have contributed to the resurgence of the technique in entirely new and unique languages.
About the show, Mister CARTOON shares, “When I started airbrushing there was this huge wave in Southern California with custom vans where people started theming their cars with all these different kinds of murals. There was a Battlestar Galactica van, an E.T. van., and many others with Mexican Aztec type of artwork. It was mind-blowing to me. That same feeling is something I wanted to evoke for Under Pressure, to excite a new generation in a similar way I was all those years ago, while appreciating the evolution of this artform that has been so important to my career.”
Ryota Daimon in Studio
Early-airbrush experienced a pivotal moment within the art world during the Pop Art movement, with artists like James Rosenquist, Peter Palombi, Allen Jones, and of course, Andy Warhol. The airbrush’s roots in advertising and graphic illustration seamlessly transitioned into an art movement that drew heavily on commercial and consumer influences.
By the late-1950s and into the 1960s, airbrushing became an essential aesthetic of Southern California’s most distinct feature; the automobile. Through the likes of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and the Kustom Kulture movement, pinstriping and airbrushing cars and motorcycles began to become not just a utilitarian craft but an artistic endeavor. With Los Angeles being the epicenter of the American vision through Hollywood films and the idyllic openness and freedom of the highway, airbrushing was synonymous with individuality and personalization.
Mia Scarpa in Studio
Honoring the past by propelling the movement forward, UNDER PRESSURE celebrates the present and future of airbrush. The opening reception for the show will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023 from 7PM - 9PM, running through January 27, 2024. The exhibition is supported by Tequila Avión and its collaboration with artist Gustavo Zermeño Jr. Exclusive merchandise and printed matter will be available within the gallery gift shop for the duration of UNDER PRESSURE.
Featured Artists include:
CHITO, Devin Reynolds, Gustavo Zermeño Jr., Hank Reavis, Jaime Muñoz, Jasmine Monsegue, Javier Ramirez, Kristofferson San Pablo, Larissa De Jesús Negrón, LEFT E, Magoo, Mario Ayala, Mia Scarpa, OG Abel, Polo Cutty, and Ryota Daimon
Gallery and Retail Hours:
Wednesday – Saturday: 11AM - 6PM
Sunday – Tuesday: Closed
*The gallery will be closed from 12.24.23 to 01.02.24 in observation of the holiday season.
Address:
434 N La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036