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        Xenz - Building The Dream

        Vertical Gallery presents Building The Dream, the debut US solo show from Xenz, the London-based graffiti artist, featuring a series of paintings, drawings and prints inspired by descriptions of Chicago from the 1800’s and early 1900’s.

        Toward the end of the 19th century, many buildings in Chicago had to be raised on jack screws to prevent them sinking into the mud. Raising these buildings inadvertently created a maze of alleyways below the city. Originally home to rats, this “underworld,” as it became known, was the perfect breeding ground for organized crime. One of the first people to take advantage of this was Roger Plant, a Yorkshire man, who ran a notorious club on the corner of Wells and Monroe called “Under The Willow”. This club also served as an entrance to this underworld beneath the city. At a time when Chicago was the gateway to the wild west, and everyone was looking for a good time, Under the Willow became the most talked about vice-den in the country.

        Based on a true story, this show was inspired by the book “The Outfit,” by Gus Russo, in which he describes pre-fire Chicago and its underworld so well. Building The Dream is the artist’s interpretation of these descriptions—visualizing this sepia-toned world full of sinister optimism.

        Click here to view Xenz "Building The Dream" opening reception pictures

        Click here to view the exhibition catalog as a PDF.

        Xenz "Constable" Mixed Media --------
        $4,500.00
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        Xenz "The Underworld" Acrylic on canvas -------- Xenz "The Underworld" Acrylic on canvas --------
        $4,200.00
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        Xenz "Labyrinth" Acrylic on canvas --------
        $3,000.00
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        Xenz "Red Zone" Acrylic on canvas -------- Xenz "Red Zone" Acrylic on canvas --------
        $2,800.00
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        Xenz "Saloon" Acrylic on Paper -------- Xenz "Saloon" Acrylic on Paper --------
        $2,400.00
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        Xenz "Dusk til Dawn" Acrylic on Paper -------- Xenz "Dusk til Dawn" Acrylic on Paper --------
        $2,400.00
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        Xenz "Slabtown" Acrylic on Paper -------- Xenz "Slabtown" Acrylic on Paper --------
        $2,400.00
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        Xenz "Why Not?" Acrylic on canvas -------- Xenz "Why Not?" Acrylic on canvas --------
        $1,600.00
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        Xenz "Cardinals 10" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood -------- Xenz "Cardinals 10" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood --------
        $900.00
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        Xenz "Belmont Birds 2" Acrylic on wood -------- Xenz "Belmont Birds 2" Acrylic on wood -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Cardinals 1" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood --------
        $650.00
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        Xenz "Grackle 4" Ink on paper -------- Xenz "Grackle 4" Ink on paper -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Grackle 1" Ink on paper -------- Xenz "Grackle 1" Ink on paper -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Maze 3" Watercolor on paper -------- Xenz "Maze 3" Watercolor on paper --------
        $475.00
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        Xenz "Labyrinth AP Screen Print" Screen Print --------
        $395.00
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        Xenz "Labyrinth Screen Print" Screen Print -------- On Sale
        $150.00 $195.00
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        Xenz "Portrait 3" Watercolor on paper -------- Xenz "Portrait 3" Watercolor on paper -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Scars and Stripes" Acrylic on Paper -------- Xenz "Scars and Stripes" Acrylic on Paper -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Portrait 1" Watercolor on paper -------- Xenz "Portrait 1" Watercolor on paper -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Cardinals" Spray paint on canvas -------- Xenz "Cardinals" Spray paint on canvas -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Before The Fire 2" Acrylic on Paper -------- Xenz "Before The Fire 2" Acrylic on Paper -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Skyline Tenierstin" Acrylic on found tin box -------- Xenz "Skyline Tenierstin" Acrylic on found tin box -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Mickey Finn" Acrylic on Paper -------- Xenz "Mickey Finn" Acrylic on Paper -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Skyscrapers" Acrylic on Paper -------- Xenz "Skyscrapers" Acrylic on Paper -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Cardinals 2" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Cardinals 4" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Cardinals 5" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Cardinals 6" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Cardinals 7" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood -------- Xenz "Cardinals 7" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Cardinals 8" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood -------- Xenz "Cardinals 8" Mixed Media, Drawing on Wood -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Belmont Birds 1" Acrylic on wood -------- Xenz "Belmont Birds 1" Acrylic on wood -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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        Xenz "Toddlin Town" Acrylic on Paper -------- Xenz "Toddlin Town" Acrylic on Paper -------- Sold Out
        $0.00
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