News

Vertical Gallery, Flog rejoin forces for NYC solo showcase ‘Hand in Hand’ 

Vertical Gallery, Chicago’s premier urban-contemporary art gallery, is very proud to present ‘Hand in Hand,’ French painter Flog’s debut New York City solo exhibition. 

‘Hand in Hand,’ on display May 8–24 at 2 Rivington Street on New York’s Lower East Side, spotlights Flog’s signature Human of Glass character, within whose transparent, genderless body the colors and complexities of life swirl and splash. Vertical toasts Flog’s Big Apple premiere with an opening-night reception on Thursday, May 8 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. 

‘Hand in Hand’ follows close to 18 months after Flog’s first-ever U.S. solo showcase, the sold-out ‘Rewind,’ presented by Vertical at SCOPE Miami Beach 2023. While ‘Rewind’ drew visual and thematic inspiration from formative events in Flog’s adolescence, ‘Hand in Hand’ occupies our present moment, focusing squarely on the Human of Glass and the character’s interactions with a pair of giant-sized, color-filled glass hands. 

“‘Hand in Hand’ explores the contrast between the hands and the character, and their difference in size emphasizes the difference between power and weakness — who has the power, and who doesn't,” says Flog, born Florian Gaborit. “There's also a focus on how hands link people. There’s holding hands, of course, as well as how we communicate with our hands. You can send a reassuring message. You can display the peace symbol. You can also give someone the middle finger. Hands are such a powerful symbol and storytelling tool. They convey so many emotions, both positive and negative.” 

Subtle, gradient colors dominate ‘Hand in Hand’ — a sharp turn from the dayglo tints and tones of ‘Rewind.’ “It’s a whole new color palette. There’s not just one flat green or one flat blue, and there’s much more work with the spray can,” Flog says. “I’m always in search of new colors, and I love to experiment. I’m sure the show after this one will have a different color palette, too.” 

New York City has its fingerprints all over ‘Hand in Hand’ as well. “Never would I have imagined that something like this exhibition with Vertical Gallery would happen. I’m a bit speechless about this incredible opportunity,” Flog says. “New York is one of the biggest cities in the world, and these concepts of gigantism and reducing the scale of my character come directly from wondering if I will feel like an ant in that environment. But I’m confident I’m showing the New York audience something new — something very different than everything I’ve done before.” 

Flog studied graphic design at Nantes’ École Pivaut before pursuing a career as a painter. His deft, dazzling blend of aerosol spray, acrylics and oils gained international attention following the 2020 introduction of the Human of Glass series, and two years later he made his Vertical debut via the gallery’s nine-year anniversary group show, inaugurating a collaboration that continues to deepen with each passing year. Flog has also exhibited his work in Paris, Rome and Taipei, among other international destinations. 

FLOG 'Hand in Hand'
May 8-24, 2025
Opening reception with the artist: Thurs May 8, 5:00-8:00pm
Vertical Gallery Pop-Up Space: 2 Rivington St., Lower East Side, NYC
Email us for additional details

Jonlouis Gonzalez needed to come back down to earth. 

The Miami-based multimedia artist built his reputation by embracing the interstellar spirit and symbols of Florida’s Space Coast region, creating paintings, sculptures and installations exploring the terrain between reality and imagination. But as the new year dawned, Jonlouis was feeling lost in orbit. 

“I live in a high-rise with 145 units, and I felt very disconnected from nature. I wanted to live on the land, and see what it feels like to walk on dirt floors,” Jonlouis tells Vertical Gallery. “[My partner] Yezenia and I were applying to a whole bunch of residency opportunities, and for whatever reason, we weren't getting the results that we wanted. So we decided to create our own residency in Mexico, where Yezenia’s family is from. We brought all our tools and our supplies, and we built a studio in the middle of nowhere.”

The couple spent close to three months on a ranch in Aguascalientes, a small rural community located in the northern part of Mexico’s Bajío region, working odd jobs while absorbing the customs and rituals of their new environment. The sojourn inspired Jonlouis’ ‘Lay of the Land,’ a collection of vividly impressionistic oil and acrylic paintings on view at Vertical from April 4-26 as part of our 12-Year Anniversary International Group Show.

‘Lay of the Land’ rockets Jonlouis’ signature astronaut adventurers into the heart of his Aguascalientes experience, bringing his characters into contact with the cattle and cacti essential to everyday life there.

“The family we lived with farmed cactus, which is a traditional meal for breakfast. Their neighbor farms eggs, another neighbor makes leather goods, and still another neighbor herds cattle. The same day the cattle is slaughtered, the community consumes it,” Jonlouis recalls. “The whole neighborhood is an ecosystem. It produces everything needed for sustainable living. That had a big impact on me. I was writing everything down in my notebook, like ‘Wow, this is so different compared to where I'm from.’”

Aguascalientes also introduced Jonlouis to amate, a type of thick, textured paper manufactured from the pulp of fig and mulberry trees. He purchased 20 sheets of amate paper from a local vendor, four of which form the basis for the paintings that make up ‘Lay of the Land.’

“I was searching for a medium that was deeply connected to this region,” Jonlouis explains. “At first, I considered using local clay or adobe, but then I came across amate. Understanding the history and significance of my materials is important to me, and amate carries a powerful story. Indigenous Mesoamerican groups have been making it for nearly 2,000 years, using it to record history, rituals and important events. However, during the Spanish conquest, its production was banned to suppress indigenous record-keeping and erase cultural memory. When I discovered a local artist creating scenes of cockfighting, cattle herding and traditional weddings on amate, I knew this was the right medium for ‘Lay of the Land.’ It wasn’t just about aesthetics — it was about honoring the land, its history and the people who preserved its traditions.”  

Needless to say, Jonlouis returned to Miami with the grounded perspective he craved. 

“This experience redefined my understanding of craftsmanship,” Jonlouis says. “The people there create, build and eat only what is within arm’s reach. Their resources are limited, but their creativity is limitless. It made me realize that having every option available doesn’t necessarily make you more creative — it can actually lead to paralysis. True craftsmanship is about working with what you have, and pushing those materials to their fullest potential.”

View Jonlouis Gonzalez artwork here

CABNOV (IG: @cab_nov) is one of seven emerging artists making their Vertical Gallery debut at our 12-Year Anniversary international group show, opening Friday, April 4. The latest installment in our Artist Spotlight series reveals all.

Vertical Gallery: Please introduce yourself to our audience.

CABNOV: I am a self-taught, multidisciplinary artist. My artistic journey began with music, which I transformed into mural paintings in New Zealand. After debuting my work there, I made the transition to the gallery scene in 2020, where I began painting on canvas. Over the past four years, I have established myself as a full-time professional artist. 

My art reflects the belief that life is a tapestry woven from unexpected moments, creating a world that transcends the physical realm. Influenced by emotions and the energy around me, I embrace an open-minded and humorous perspective, resonating with the intricate layers of human existence. One of my earliest inspirations is the first edition of the Where's Waldo? books — a cherished childhood collection that continues to fuel my creative vision.

Notable achievements in my career include being featured in art fairs in Korea and the Philippines, as well as presenting at ComplexCon in Las Vegas as part of KnownGallery’s roster of artists.

What does the CABNOV alias represent?

The CABNOV name is deeply significant to me. It combines the first three letters of my partner’s surname, CAB, with my own, NOV. She is my greatest supporter, pushing me to delve deeper into my art and standing by my side from the very beginning. This name beautifully encapsulates our connection as two individuals becoming one.

Tell us about the work you’re exhibiting at Vertical’s 12-Year Anniversary show. 

This body of work centers on self-discovery, relationship building, and fully appreciating the energy and presence of those we surround ourselves with. It underscores the importance of valuing the connections that shape us and the moments that define our journeys.

What does it mean to present your work in front of a Chicago gallery audience, and what practical advice can you offer artists seeking to follow in your footsteps?

This is a pivotal moment for me. Breaking into the U.S. art scene is a dream realized, and this show marks a significant advance in my career. I am excited to share my work and unique artistic style with a new audience.

I have long admired your gallery, especially after seeing one of my favorite artists, Alex Face, exhibit here. This inspired me to take a bold step and submit my work, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to showcase my art with you. 

To my fellow artists, my advice is this: stay true to your vision and believe in your work, even if 99 percent of people don’t. Remember, it’s crucial to take the time to rest — creativity needs space to breathe.

What’s next for you beyond this group show?

I’m thrilled to announce an upcoming show at a museum in China. My long-term goals are ambitious, including a solo exhibition in New York and creating a public sculpture that stands 20 to 50 feet tall.  

CABNOV's work for our 12-Year Anniversary Show has sold out. Contact us to be added to the list for future works from her.

Vertical Gallery, Chicago’s premier urban-contemporary art gallery, is very proud to present our 12-Year Anniversary Show, an all-star exhibit celebrating our first dozen years at the vanguard of street art, pop surrealism, new contemporary and beyond.

Vertical’s 12-Year Anniversary Show, on display from April 4-26, brings together longtime collector favorites and promising new talents from across the city, across the nation and across the globe, showcasing the consistency and diversity that have remained hallmarks of Vertical’s monthly programming efforts since the gallery opened for business in April 2013. The festivities kick off Friday, April 4 with an opening reception from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at our flagship West Town location (2006 W. Chicago Ave. #1R; enter via the alley off Damen Avenue).

“Time flies when you’re having fun!” says Vertical owner and curator Patrick Hull. “When I left my corporate job in San Francisco and moved to Chicago to open Vertical, I was hoping that other collectors would love the same type of art that I love. Twelve years later, with more than 130 exhibitions under my belt, it’s clear I made the right decision. Please join us on April 4 to celebrate this milestone!”

Vertical’s 12-Year Anniversary Show roster features 10 returning artists:

• Martin Whatson (NO) @martinwhatson
• 2CHOEY (TH) @2choey
• Jerome Tiunayan (US) @gohomejerome
• Hama Woods (NO) @hamawoods
• Alex Krueger (US) @alexkruegz
• Arne Spangereid (NO) @arnespangereid
• Grant William Thye (US) @grant_william_thye
• Daniel Sueiras Fanjul (ES) @daniel_sueiras
• Liz Flores (US) @lizitto
• Marcelo Suaznabar (BO) @marcelosuaznabar

Eight additional artists are showing at Vertical for the first time:

• Jonlouis Gonzalez (US) @jonlouisgonzalez
• CABNOV (PH) @cab_nov
• Matthew Shutt (UK) @shutty78
• Ian Inoy (PH) @ianinoy
• Maks Simone (US) @maks.simone
• Twopy (FR) @twopy1
• TOPO (ES) @takethetopo
• Glass Cuisine (US) @glass_cuisine

Last but not least, we're debuting special-edition releases from:

• Lucy Sparrow (UK) @sewyoursoul
• Pure Evil (UK) @pureevilgallery
• Collin van der Sluijs (NL) @collinvandersluijs + Laura Catherwood (US) @laura.catherwood
  

“It is very humbling to see my passion for art turn into a gallery with such loyal support,” Hull says. “Thanks to all the artists that have trusted in us, and to all the collectors that believe in the art we feature. Even after 12 years, I still find myself learning so much from the people around me each day.”

Vertical Gallery 12-Year Anniversary
April 4-26, 2025
Opening reception: Fri. Apr. 4, 5:00-8:00pm
2006 W Chicago Ave #1R

REQUEST THE COLLECTOR'S PREVIEW HERE

What’s in a name? Multitudes — if you’re Troy Lee.

Troy, whose breakthrough solo showcase ‘We From the Heavens’ runs at Vertical Gallery through Saturday, March 29, previously exhibited in our space under the alias Troy Scat. You may have seen his contributions to Vertical group shows like 2021’s ‘#INK,’ its 2022 sequel and 2024’s 11-year anniversary celebration, where the Troy Scat signature adorned lush, sensual portraits of men wreathed in flowers and women draped in nothing at all.  

“Troy Scat was my rebel artist's name,” Troy tells Vertical. “I had some beef with my dad. We didn't always see eye to eye, and I got into a lot of trouble. At one point, my dad was like ‘You ruined my name’ and stuff like that. So I wanted to change my name to the worst name that I could think of. I chose ‘Scat’ because it could mean jazz, like a vocal performance, or it could mean cow dung. For a while, I had that name just out of spite.”

Make no mistake, however: Troy’s father, a minister on Chicago’s South Side, is no villain in his son’s story. In fact, he’s directly responsible for steering 15-year-old Troy into the Little Black Pearl-sponsored after-school art program where he met painter, muralist and longtime mentor Hebru Brantley. 

Troy’s relationship with his father continues to improve and evolve all these years later, thanks in part to the soul-searching that accompanied the creation of ‘We From the Heavens,’ which examines the perceptions and realities confronting Black American males across the generations — how they’re seen in the media, and how they see themselves in the mirror. 

“Now that I’m older, I'm able to look at him as a human man, and step outside of looking at him as just a dad,” Troy says. “It ties in with this body of work, where I'm taking a step back and looking at people for who they are — the circumstances that they're in, and what they're doing to exist and survive.”

The Troy Scat moniker has ceased to be, however. 

“Lee is my middle name, and it's also my dad's middle name, and it's also my brother's middle name. So I decided to change my name to Troy Lee, because that's more fitting of who I am, and where I come from,” Troy says. “I'm not feeling so spiteful anymore.”

VIEW THE EXHIBITION HERE