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Vertical Gallery, Alex Face make their ‘Impressions’ on New York City

Vertical Gallery, Chicago’s premier urban-contemporary art gallery, is very proud to present ‘Impressions,’ celebrated Thai street artist Alex Face’s first New York City solo exhibit. 

‘Impressions,’ produced by Vertical Gallery, commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Impressionist movement, projecting Alex Face’s signature child characters into dreamlike landscapes inspired by Claude Monet and other fin-de-siècle French masters. The show runs Oct. 10-26 at 247 Elizabeth Street, NYC, 10012, kicking off with an opening reception on Thursday, Oct. 10 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm ET.

‘Impressions,’ which follows roughly two years after Vertical Gallery’s Chicago flagship hosted Alex’s solo showcase ‘Faces,’ reinterprets Impressionism’s spirit and sensibilities for the 21st century, embracing the movement’s most enduring innovations — among them discontinuous brushstrokes, shimmering colors and radical contrasts between shadows and light — while remaining true to the Bangkok-based painter’s stylistic hallmarks and thematic concerns. 

“I studied fine art [at Bangkok's King Mongktut University Institute of Technology] and I love graffiti and street art, and I wanted to mix them together,” Alex (born Patcharapol Tangruen) says. “When I first saw Impressionist painting, it made me want to be an Impressionist artist. I always carried my canvas and paints outside to paint landscapes, and Impressionists were the first artists to paint outside. What they did is really no different from street artists spray-painting graffiti on a wall.”  

Alex learned Impressionist techniques firsthand when he worked for a Thai company that sold reproductions of Impressionist-era paintings. “I painted a lot of reproductions, and I learned a lot. I even tried to mix the exact same colors of paint they used, but there’s almost too much color in those paintings for your eye to see,” he recalls. “When I had a chance to go to Europe to see real Impressionist paintings, I realized they were so much different than they seem in books. It’s not only one layer of paint. They painted over and over and over. That’s what I’m doing for this show: I paint the first layer and let it dry, and then I paint another layer and let it dry. I want that same texture.” 

‘Impressions’ breaks with Impressionist trademarks and tools by incorporating spray-painted images of children in fuzzy animal costumes — avatars instantly familiar to longtime Alex Face enthusiasts. “I paint little children because they represent the future,” Alex explains, noting that the show prominently features wolf and rabbit characters (signifying hunters and prey, respectively). 

Alex Face made his Vertical Gallery debut in 2019, co-headlining the exhibit ‘Mythical Creatures’ opposite fellow Bangkok street artist Muebon. He subsequently contributed to Vertical group shows including ‘Atomic Number 13’ (2021) and ‘Ode To…’ (2023). In addition to solo outings in Los Angeles and Singapore, his work resides in MOCA Bangkok’s permanent collection.

Show Details:
Vertical Gallery presents Alex Face “Impressions”
October 10-26, 2024
Opening Thursday, October 10^th, 5:00-9:00pm
247 Elizabeth Street, NYC, 10012

Email us at sales@verticalgallery.com for the collector's preview.

Vertical Gallery, Chicago’s premier urban-contemporary art gallery, is very proud to present ‘B-Sides,’ an immersive multimedia showcase featuring illustrator, designer and muralist Blake Jones. 

‘B-Sides,’ Jones’ first solo exhibit at Vertical following a series of group show appearances and collaborative efforts, channels the artist’s lifelong passion for music into an array of canvases, drawings and bespoke objects celebrating the sensory delights of collecting records. ‘B-Sides’ runs October 4-26; Jones will attend the show’s opening reception, taking place at the gallery (2006 W. Chicago Ave. #1R) on Friday, Oct. 4 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.  

‘B-Sides’ transforms Vertical’s West Town space into an ersatz record shop, highlighted by more than 100 original drawings packaged inside polyethylene LP sleeves and displayed in bins fabricated by Chicago designer Jacob Polhill. The exhibit also incorporates hand-painted cassette players, custom neon signs and myriad other totems and talismans familiar to music retail habitués the world over. 

“‘B-Sides’ pays homage to the musicians who blew my mind when I was growing up, as well as the new music I’m discovering today,” Jones explains. “When you flip through the drawings, each one includes a QR code that goes to a 8.5-hour playlist I created for the show. I also designed fake record label logos and graphics, and I’m projecting short animated videos inspired by old-school MTV music videos. This is still an art show, but it’s branded like a real record store to make it more cohesive and more interactive.”

While ‘B-Sides’ retains many of the hallmarks of Jones’ recent projects (including his vivid color palette, striking line work and menagerie of anthropomorphic characters), its emphasis on interactivity harks back to the Texas-born artist’s earliest endeavors. “When I was in my teens and 20s, I used to love doing installation work and making my own little videos, but I haven't done that stuff since I moved to Chicago seven years ago. In fact, a lot of people here have no idea that’s what I used to do,” Jones says. “‘B-Sides’ brings me back to that more experimental, DIY mindset. It’s about the stuff that I'm into as a person. I want the show to feel like a pop song — the kind that’s undeniable when you hear it. Most of all, I want people to have fun.” 

Jones came of age in La Porte, Tex. and studied design at the Art Institute of Houston. Prior to ‘B-Sides,’ he headlined solo exhibits in Chicago, New York City, Tokyo and Hong Kong, and partnered with brands including UVD Toys, Collective Arts Brewing and the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.

Email us at sales@verticalgallery.com for the collector's preview.

Vertical Gallery is proud to present “Hero’s Journey” the solo exhibit from Chicago-based painter, Adam Augustyn.

“Hero’s Journey,” which runs September 6-28 and opens with a reception on September 6th from 5-8 pm, follows a series of morphing characters as they travel into the unknown, strung with tokens and saddled with belongings from their past phases as they move toward new realms. The series also represents the artist’s personal reflection of his own venture back into painting and the adventure that is parenting three ever-changing girls.

“My work typically obsesses over darker themes reflecting current events rendered bright and cartoonish–it’s my form of sense-making when I’m mad at the world. But for this show, I wanted to focus more on the personal–on the strength of individuals who knowingly embark on adventure and have the wherewithal to appreciate the journey while the journey is in motion, simultaneously celebrating life, and taking joy in overcoming obstacles.”

Augustyn fostered a love of art from a young age and across many forms, spanning film, special effects, games, and sculpture. His career has focused on creating art and animation and providing art direction for video games. This is his second solo show with the gallery, following “The Sky Is Falling” in 2022. He has participated in numerous group shows, showing work in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Adam Augustyn
“Hero’s Journey”
September 6 – 28, 2024
Opening night, Friday September 6^th, 5:00-8:00pm
Vertical Gallery, 2006 W Chicago Ave. #1R, Chicago

Vertical Gallery is very excited to announce our Summer Group Show featuring 50+ artists, each contributing two 11x14 in. (30x40cm) works! 20 of the artists we are showing for the first time; along with some familiar names; and some artists you haven't seen at the gallery for many years. This is a super star show! 

Join us August 2 - 24, 2024, with an opening reception Friday August 2nd, 5:00-8:00pm.

Featuring: Adam Lister (US), AJ Ainscough (US), Akut (DE), Andie Taylor (AU), Angel Onofre (US), Ben Peeters (BE), Bianca Pastel (US), Bird Milk (US), Brad Novak (NZ), Brochevski (US), Candice Tripp (UK), Carlos Fdez (ES), Casey Gray (US), Chris Cunningham (UK), Copyright (UK), Daniel Sueiras Fanjul (ES), Dovie Golden (US), Flog (FR), Grant William Thye (US), Greg Gossel (US), Jaime Sancorlo (ES), Jake and Josh (US), Jérôme Masi (FR), Jerome Tiunayan (US), JJ Zamoranos (PH), Jordan Ferguson (US), Joseph Renda Jr. (US), Justin Hein (US), Kazland (UK), Laura Catherwood (US), Lefty Out There (US), Lie (US), Liz Flores (US), Louis (Masai) Michel (UK), Marcelo Suaznabar (BO), Martin Whatson (NO), Matthew Shutt (UK), Mighty Monkey (UK), Mila Useche (CO), Muretz (BR), My Dog Sighs (UK), Nate Otto (US), OakOak (FR), Pizza in the Rain (US), Ramiro Huizar (US), Ruby Roth (US), Sandra Rojo Picón (ES), Sergio Farfán (US), Shamsia Hassani (AF), Shishidomia (JP), Steve Seeley (US), Super A (NL), Yiğit Can Alper (TR).

Email us at sales@verticalgallery.com to be added to the collector's preview list.

Vertical Gallery, Collin van der Sluijs turn their gaze to ‘Observer’

Vertical Gallery, Chicago’s premier urban-contemporary art gallery, is very proud to present ‘Observer,’ a solo exhibit featuring Netherlands-based painter and muralist Collin van der Sluijs.

‘Observer’ — van der Sluijs’ fifth solo showcase at Vertical (2006 W. Chicago Ave #1R; enter via the alley off Damen) — brings together seven large-scale canvases and about a dozen smaller works on paper, propelling the category-defying artist’s dreamlike, deeply personal approach into new dimensions of visual and thematic complexity. ‘Observer’ runs July 5-27; van der Sluijs will attend the show’s opening reception, taking place at Vertical on Friday, July 5 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

“‘Observer’ is how I see myself. If I’m in a city, I see walls to paint. When I’m in the countryside, I want to do watercolors. And when I’m in the studio, I want to take my time with paintings,” van der Sluijs says. “This show is about adapting to different situations and exploring different mediums —  challenging yourself, making mistakes in the process, and refusing to walk the easy road.”

Vertical owner and curator Patrick Hull first encountered van der Sluijs’ work in 2013 while traveling across Europe, and soon invited him to participate in the gallery’s one-year anniversary show in April 2014. “Collin is a member of the Vertical family, and we are thrilled to have him return to the gallery for his fifth solo show,” Hull says. “Chicago has become his second home. He’s visited eight times for solo shows, group shows and wall projects, and many of his murals are still viewable in the city. Come explore what he has created for this show.”

Van der Sluijs began writing graffiti at the age of 11, and spent the following decade studying a range of creative disciplines before earning a Master’s degree in fine art in 2004 from the St. Joost Academy of Art and Design. Van der Sluijs has since exhibited in galleries across Europe and the U.S., and painted murals in locations including Amsterdam and Maastricht in The Netherlands; The Hague and Leuven in Brussels; Berlin, Germany; and the most recent in Laon, France.

Collin van der Sluijs
'Observer'
July 5 - 27, 2024
Opening reception: Friday July 5th, 5:00-8:00pm
Vertical Gallery, 2006 W Chicago Ave #1R