News

Vertical Gallery is very pleased to present a duo show with Chicago's Steve Seeley and Blake Jones. The exhibition runs February 4 - 25, with an opening day reception on Saturday Feb 4, noon-6pm.

Steve Seeley (b. 1979) is an artist living in Berwyn, IL. His art has been shown at galleries and institutions both throughout the U.S. and internationally. He is a founding member and co-owner of POP!NK Editions, a fine art screen printing company located in Chicago. Additionally, he enjoys collecting unique and obscure things and has dabbled in the world of writing comics. His free time is spent with his wife Jenny, their two cats, and their awesome dog Egg.

Blake Jones (b. 1988) is a Chicago based artist. Blake’s use of graphic line work and bright color palettes illustrates narratives of complex worlds inhabited by his own iconic characters, objects, and landscapes. Blake’s work has been exhibited in multiple mediums and forms such as print, paintings, gallery exhibitions, sculptures, and murals.

‘Love Notes’
A duo show with Steve Seeley and Blake Jones
February 4 – 25, 2023
Opening day: Sat Feb 4, noon-6pm
Vertical Gallery, 1016 N Western Ave., Chicago

Vertical Gallery is very proud to present ‘Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá,’ a solo exhibit featuring Chicago-based painter and muralist Liz Flores.

‘Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá,’ which runs from Dec. 10-31 at Vertical’s 1016 N. Western Ave. location, launches Flores into the next phase of her ascent, embracing new shapes, textures and patterns that expand the scope of her signature abstract figurative portraits. The 14 new pieces featured in the show also emphasize Flores’ evolution as a visual storyteller, revealing a deeper, more profound sense of self — a direct outgrowth of the artist’s exploration of her family’s roots. Flores will attend the opening reception, taking place Saturday, Dec. 10 from noon to 6:00 pm.

Flores conceived and created ‘Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá’ in the wake of traveling to her mother’s native Cuba and and to Mexico where her father’s family is from, the latter journey undertaken in partnership with the art and travel project The Jaunt. These experiences radically transformed the U.S.-born Flores’s relationship to the cultural forces and traditions that shaped her from afar.

“I’ve traveled to Mexico in the past to see family, but this was my first time visiting Cuba. When visiting these two places, I experienced an emotional pull. It might be the food or the language, but I felt at home and nostalgic,” Flores explains. “‘Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá’ is inspired by those feelings of nostalgia, the clash between tradition and modern life, as well as the search for belonging and identity”.

The title ‘Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá’ — which translates from Spanish as “From neither here nor there” — is a common expression among people coming to terms with the complexities and contradictions of their multicultural makeup, Flores notes.

“This work is a direct reaction to the question ‘What are you?’” she says. “In the U.S., you don’t always feel like you are American enough. But then at the same time you may not always feel Latina enough. You live in the in-between. It’s a struggle to respond when someone asks ‘What are you?’ because it’s such a struggle to define yourself. You feel torn between three different identities — American, Mexican and Cuban — and realizing that you’re a little bit of everything. It’s almost a completely new identity that’s just for you.”

The self-taught Flores earned her bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship from Illinois State University, abandoning the corporate world after three years to pursue a career in art. A 2019 mural for Sephora (still on view inside Chicago’s Water Tower Place) set in motion a series of collaborations with brands like Lululemon, Target and the NFL’s Chicago Bears. Flores has also participated in group shows across the Chicagoland area, including Vertical Gallery’s ‘It Was All a Dream’ and ‘Atomic Number 13’ (both from 2021) as well as this past April’s 9-Year Anniversary Show.

Liz Flores
‘Ni De Aquí, Ni De Allá’
December 10 - 31, 2022
Opening day: December 10, noon-6pm
Vertical Gallery, 1016 N Western Ave., Chicago

Vertical Gallery is very pleased to present 'Thing or Two' at Vertical Project Space (2006 W Chicago Ave. #1R) running from Oct 15 - Nov 13. The show will open on Sat & Sun, Oct 13 & 14, noon-5pm.

The show brings together a diverse group of artists, each creating two works each. Featuring: Adam Augustyn, Andrew Ghrist, Ale Bara, Blake Jones, Bo Myles, Chad Edwards, Christy Grossmann, Crush Entity, Czr Prz, Demonbby, Diosa, Jeff Pak, Jettila Lewis, Kyle Cobban, Laura Catherwood, MELT.Y, Michelle Wanhala, Mike Egan, Mosher, Racheal Scotland, Rocodrilo, Roiz One, Sean Hannaway, Shannon Kay Lewis, Shawnimals, Sick Fisher, Van Dam One, Vivian Le

'Thing or Two'
Oct 15 - Nov 13, 2022
Open weekends, noon-5pm
Vertical Project Space
2006 W Chicago Ave., #1R (entrance in alley off Damen)

Krause Gallery & Vertical Gallery Announce ROA "In Limbo" in New York City

Krause Gallery, New York City, in conjunction with Vertical Gallery, Chicago, is thrilled to announce renowned graffiti and street artist ROA’s first New York City show in over a decade. With only one show a year, and a commitment to his craft with a no-print, no-edition code, don’t miss the rare opportunity to view ROA’s new works. The show will feature a dozen original pieces hand-painted on metal or wood; created in homage to both creature and habitat. A limited number of signed books will also be available at the gallery and online. Show opens Thursday, October 20 at Krause Gallery. Artist Reception 5-8pm.

Background

ROA, originally from Ghent Belgium, is one of the early pioneers in a now vibrant urban art scene in Belgium. He has created works on the streets of cities across Europe, the United States, Australia, Asia, New Zealand and Africa. He is known for painting large scale murals of wild or urban animals and birds using a minimal color palette. Many depict the inner workings of the creatures, detailing bones, and organs with technical perfection, while offering mutual respect both to the creatures, and their spaces and surroundings. ROA uses his artistry to create community and conversation by touching upon such universal themes as life and death, beauty and decay.

Contact benjamin@krausegallery.com for the collector's preview

General Information

Krause Gallery
149 Orchard Street.
New York, NY 10002
212-777-7799
benjamin@krausegallery.com

Hours
Wednesday – Saturday 12am to 6pm or by appointment

Vertical Gallery is very proud to present ‘Atomic Number 13 part 2,’ a group show featuring new work from a local, national, and international roster of artists, curated by Chicago-based art services and custom framing company ArtBuilds. After the incredible success of 'Atomic Number 13' in December 2021, Vertical and ArtBuilds immediately decided to partner again for part 2.

‘Atomic Number 13 part 2,’ which runs from Nov. 5 - 19 at Vertical’s 1016 N. Western Ave. location, brings together over 80 artists in all, each working on an 11x14 aluminum composite panel handcrafted by ArtBuilds. The company’s founder, artist Joseph Renda Jr. — the subject of the summer 2021 Vertical Gallery solo show ‘Larger Than Life’ — also handpicked each artist included in the exhibit, some of whom (including Renda) will be in attendance at the gallery on Saturday, Nov. 5 in celebration of the show’s opening (noon-6pm). 

The title ‘Atomic Number 13” honors aluminum’s spot on the periodic table of elements. Renda began painting on aluminum composite panels five years ago, inspired by his mentor Anthony Adcock, an instructor at the American Academy of Art. “Once I realized I could make these panels whatever size I wanted, or build them in different shapes, I was hooked, and I stopped painting on canvas and wood,” Renda says. “These panels are the smoothest, most archival surface you can paint on, and unlike other surfaces, they don’t absorb moisture, so they’re not going to warp over time.”

Renda launched ArtBuilds in 2018 to provide much-needed framing and construction services to his peers in the artist community. “I make everything by hand, all from natural wood — not just frames, but also custom canvases, shipping crates and pedestals. Artists make up 90 percent of my clientele, and the other 10 percent are galleries and collectors.” ArtBuilds has been working with Vertical since before Renda officially founded the company: when the gallery needed assistance with multiple projects, Renda offered his support, and the partnership continues to this day.

“Beyond showing the versatility of the aluminum panels, I wanted to show the diversity of art out there,” he explains. “With so many artists working in so many different styles, everyone who attends this show is going to discover something that they love.”

The artists featured in Atomic Number 13 part 2 include:

Aaron Robert Baker, Adam Augustyn, Ador, Agnes Cecile, AJ Ainscough, Aldair Dosmil, Alejandro Botubol Bolaños, Alex Face, Allie Kushnir, Ana Fuentes, Bird Milk, Blake Jones, Codak Smith, Collin van der Sluijs, Chris Uphues, Christy Grossmann, Cristi López, David Heo, Delisha, Diosa, Diego Peñuela, Elloo, Emma McKee, Ezra Brown, Fintan Magee, FACE, Fedz, Flog, GoopMassta, Goosenek, Grant William Thye, Hama Woods, Jamiah Calvin, James Eastwood, James Lipnickas, James Sturnfield, JC Rivera, Jennifer Cronin, Jenny Frison, Jordan Ferguson, Joseph Renda Jr., Jesse Hora, Jesse Navarrete, JUURI, Karl Jahnke, Kathie Olivas, Katie Lukes, Kyle Cobban, Loc Hong, Laura Catherwood, Lie, Martin Whatson, Mary Fedorowski, Matt Zuska, Mau Mau, Melissa Villarreal, Miller James, Micah Ofstedahl, Michelle Avery, Konczyk, Morgan Frew, My Dog Sighs, Oscar Joyo, Paul Neberra, Penny Pinch, Pipsqueak Was Here!!!, Pizza in the Rain, Poka, Racheal Scotland, Ramiro Silva-Cortes, Ruben Aguirre, ROIZ, Samantha DeCarlo, Sarah Jamison, Savannah Magnolia, Sergio Farfán, Seth Clark, Shawnimals, Sid Ylagan, Steve Seeley, Thomas Turner, Troy Scat, Underseagravy, Valeria Terrazas, Van Dam One, Vivian Le, Yon, YunGFlop, Zach Schrey, ZorZorZor

'Atomic Number 13 part 2', curated by ArtBuilds
November 5-19, 2022
Opening day: Sat Nov 5, noon-6pm
Vertical Gallery, 1016 N Western Ave., Chicago