Dirty Laundry: Peter Bjorn And John from Dirty Laundry on Vimeo.

Works by Aaron Noble, Alisha Kerlin, Andrew Schoultz, Andy Diaz Hope, Ben Venom, Chris Duncan, David Jien, Devin Troy Strother, Frohawk Two Feathers, Glen Baldridge, Heidi Zumbrun, Jeff Canham, Joseph Hart, Libby Black, Paul Wackers, Richard Colman, Sean McFarland, Steve Powers, Ted Pushinsky & Ala Ebtekar. Going to be a good one for sure..

THIS los angeles is proud to present:

Giant Artists COLLECTION, a multimedia group exhibition

Friday, December 2, 2011 from 7-10 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES, CA — Giant Artists, a Los Angeles-based agency representing photographers, art directors, illustrators, designers, filmmakers, makeup artists, and stylists, in partnership with THIS Los Angeles, is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition entitled, Giant Artists COLLECTION. The exhibition, curated by Giant founder, Jen Jenkins and artist representative, Eleni Peters, will feature a range of recent works of various mediums by artists on Giant’s roster, and coincides with the release of the agency’s new anthology of the same title.

Opening Reception: Friday, December 2nd. 7-10pm.

Participating artists include:
Aaron Ruell, Blake E. Marquis, David Black, Graphic Therapy, Emily Shur, Glynis Selina Arban, Jeremy & Claire Weiss, Jess Holzworth, Keren Richter, Lauren Dukoff, Michael Schmelling, RJ Shaughnessy, Peter Sutherland, and Todd Cole.

Published works to include:
Atlanta by Michael Schmelling (Chronicle Books)
Family by Lauren Dukoff (Chronicle Books)
These Photographs Will Heal Your Soul by RJ Shaughnessy
Some Photos by Aaron Ruell (Nazraeli Press)
The Plan by Michael Schmelling (J+L Books)

There will be a free tote bag designed by Keren Richter to the first 100 people made possible from Incase, and a new limted edition THIS x RVCA shirt designed by Peter Sutherland will be available.
2011 marks Giant Artist’s five-year anniversary. As Jenkins explains, “For the occasion, I wanted to celebrate how each of the artists’ visions has expanded and how their work reveals aspects of their distinctive personas.” Jenkins also considers this year’s theme and the group exhibition format completely in sync with her agency’s ideals, stating, “Giant Artists is a collection – of artists, works, publications, projects, and friends.” Collaboration and creative kinship exist not only between the agency and its artists, but it extends to its clients. Michael Schmelling’s innovative collage techniques that he created as part of his Atlanta project, helped inspire the Converse “I’m With Basket Ball” campaign that he photographed last year. Peter Sutherland’s personal documentary work, which features the hidden beauty in ordinary objects and everyday situations, became the quintessential visuals for Stussy’s Fall 2011 campaign. Lauren Dukoff’s classic black and white photography influenced the retro, yet glamorous vibe of the “Forever Fabulous” campaign for Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. The exhibition salutes the agency’s recent past, with all eyes on Giant Artists’ sure to be prized future.
ABOUT GIANT ARTISTS

Giant Artists is more than an agency. We are co-conspirators, collaborators and friends. We are dedicated to all forms of visual arts. In addition to the photographers and designers, Giant’s roster boasts a collage artist, several directors, installation artists, a web designer, a handmade prop designer, and a wardrobe stylist. We are believers.

Some images from the show.

Giant Artists – collection book.

Aaron Ruell

Emil Shur

David Calderly

RJ Shaugnessy

Jeremy & Claire Weiss/Day19

THIS los angeles
5906 North Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90042.

(Map link)

For press inquiries & presale list, please contact:
this@thislosangeles.com
323.747.5301

The show is open this Friday and Saturday 12-6. There are a couple bags and t-shirts left. You can also purchase a shirt online from our shop.

There’s also a nice little recap over at LA I’m Yours.

New Paintings & Sculptures
October 14th – November 4th, 2011

Opening Reception: October 14th, 7-10pm

After party at The Little Cave – DJs include: Tim Biskup, MFG, Paul Tao & ERIC WAREHEIM!

THIS los angeles, 5906 N. Figueroa st. LA, CA 90042

Tim Biskup‘s new collection of paintings looks strangely familiar. Maybe
it’s the unavoidable Biskup-ness of his color palate or the uncomfortable,
slightly “off” expressions of his characters. Whatever it is, it is
intentional. This exhibition was carefully planned out from the very
beginning of it’s conception. Something that skews dramatically from
Biskup’s improvisational past. It’s not like he hasn’t put a lot of thought
into his shows (His last NYC show was accompanied by a 60 page book of
text.). The difference here is the level of focus. The show is almost
entirely made up of large scale paintings in the artist’s polygonal style.
To add another layer of unity, the subjects are a series of small mask-like
heads. These are not the carefully produced characters that make up his vast
array of vinyl figures, but small, roughy hewn, crudely painted things that
the artist sculpted himself. The twist comes from the expert craft and
expansive scale of the paintings. To see those spontaneous lumps turned into
carefully composed geometric images with months of meticulous paint
application going into their creation is quite surreal. The original
sculptures will be displayed (and sold) along with the paintings. Thus the
title of the show. But the title also refers to the growth that Tim Biskup
has gone through over the last 10 years. Both in his work and in his life.
It seemed at one point that we would never see characters popping up in his
work again, but now he’s gone back to his roots to re-examine and re-invent
his past. What he’s come up with is a refined, elegant and mature version of
his former state.

Tim Biskup (b. Santa Monica, CA. 1967- ) was born and raised in Southern California where he lives and works to this day. From his early years going to punk rock shows and Disneyland in equal parts he was more concerned with his own aesthetic vision than with fitting in. His rejection of a traditional art education (He left Otis in 1988 after two tumultuous years) is further evidence of his commitment to his unique path. He pursued his technical training through years of work in the illustration, animation and graphic design industries. When he finally reached out into the fine art world, it was not through any gallery, but by creating his own series of live art auctions (The Burning Brush Art Auctions, 1999-2002), a novel move that launched not only his own career as a fine artist, but the careers of several other previously unknown painters. What has followed are a string of sold-out (and nearly sold-out) gallery exhibitions and inclusion in several high-profile museum shows throughout the world. Long recognized for his complex color and design theories and a decidedly populist aesthetic, Biskup has amassed a cadre of loyal fans and collectors, propelled further by his steady output of limited edition prints, vinyl figures, books, records and other objects. With recent forays into the writing of theoretical text, and performance art he seems determined to remind his audience that he has a lot on his mind. His theories and actions are at times light-hearted and even funny, but can tend toward nihilism, anarchy and revolutionary idealism, matching the visual intensity of his paintings, sculptures and prints.

http://timbiskup.com/

Pre-sale list available upon request

Highland Park Patch for the video.