JC Bravo was born in 1974 in Ica, Peru. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Florida International University. His artworks are influenced by his experiences growing up in the dichotomous countries of Peru and United States.Bravo’s works include painting, drawing and installation. They are influenced by the “opulence and underside of American Culture”.  His “Cabezones y Narizones “(Big Heads and Big Noses) are trademarked characters with exaggerated and disproportionate features.  Bravo explains, “These iconic characters with their swollen heads and bulbous noses personify abundance and sensuality.” Bravo uses these characters to …”express emotions, while creating surreal narratives that use irony and humor as tools to create social commentary. His work references Pop culture, religion and art history, as well as his own life.”.

When asked about his inspiration, Bravo explains “my inspiration comes from my life experiences. I love creating images that are inspired by dreams, memories and the people I encounter on a daily basis. I believe art has the power to transform our mundane experiences into something magical, it is like turning ashes into gold. My work is also influenced by art history and pop culture. I love watching films by David lynch and Federico Fellini, reading art biographies, listening to punk rock and browsing the internet for powerful images.  Surfing also inspires my art. I have been surfing since I was 15 years old and I have experienced many poignant and beautiful moments in the beach which have shaped my aesthetics.”

Bravo’s thoughts on the Miami art scene are that “…the Miami art scene is flourishing. It is wonderful to be able to go to museums and galleries all year round and see quality art. It’s also a tremendous gift to have art Basel in Miami; every year we have the privilege to be able to witness the best of the best displaying their work. All the street art is super exciting, it makes commuting quite enjoyable. My favorite places to visit in Miami are the Bakehouse Art Complex, the De La Cruz Collection and Lowe Art Museum. So much art to see and so little time!”

When asked how we can help the scene grow, he says ” I think we can make it grow by creating strong art; art that the world cannot deny will bring more critical attention to our city. By that I mean that we cannot just focus on creating decorative and colorful work. For the art world to take Miami seriously we need to create art that resonates with current issues and deals with the human condition, less vanity and more substance. There also needs to be more support from local artist from Miami collectors, that way artists can have more opportunities to explore and create without selling their souls. Instead of just buying work from known international names, collectors need to take a chance and Support local galleries and artists.”

So what’s next for JC Bravo?  He says, ” I am currently working on a new series of large surreal paintings that deal with my obsession with the ocean and post-apocalyptic movies. This series is going to be called “Waterword” and it will be my most radical work to date.  This new body of work will be exhibited at a solo show next year. Also, for next year I plan to unveil my fine art store called Bravo Arts were we will be offering Limited edition prints and original works for sale.”

 

Medium:

Oil on Canvas

Artist Kai Guetta

By Tatiana Enriquez

Get to know West Coast artist Kai Guetta; straight outta Cali reppin’ Hip-Hop Royalty.

“I come through your hood, stuntin’ in my yellow Lam Murcielago..I do a little house shoppin’, and buy me a crib… I touched the Hollywood paper, go and shoot me some flicks…” These lyrics, from Fifty Cent’s “Position of Power”, play in the back of my mind and juxtapose the stately portrait of his image as depicted by artist Kai Guetta in his “NOW ROYALTY” collection; a series of paintings depicting Hip-Hop artists in 17th century garb reserved for the nobility of the time. Fifty Cent was the first artist Kai chose to depict in this series; which was inspired by his love for hip hop and his respect for the old masters.

More About Kai:

Talent flows through Kai’s veins. This is no surprise as he is the nephew of renowned street artist Mr. Brainwash (Thierry Guetta) who became famous after his participation in the Banksy documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. Mr. Brainwash has been a regular at Art Basel, and is the mastermind responsible for the stormtroopers installation at the Boulan South Beach at Art Basel 2010.

Kai started out as a street artist in LA at the age of 14 when he began a quest to get his father to stop smoking by plastering the city with a series of clever images which he called his “Morons” campaign.  He slowly created a buzz within the street art community and concentrated his focus on addressing social issues like consumerism and addictions. By the young age of 18, Kai was becoming more and more known and was asked to participate in a documentary series for Hudson Jeans. This caught the media’s attention and he was mentioned in Los Angeles Magazine as one of the forefront street artists of his time. He went on to study at CalArts and Ecole Nationale Superior Beaux Arts Des Paris. His style has been said to be a combination of  Damien Hirst, Banksy, Koons, Rembrandt, and Anthony Van Dyke all in one.

I caught up with Kai over the phone from his home-base in LA as he prepares for the launch of the Miami exhibition of his “NOW ROYALTY” collection at LULU Laboratorium (173 NW 23rd Street   Miami, FL 33127) on March 27th during Miami’s Winter Music Conference, and he shared his inspiration for this collection and much more:

TE: Which of the “NOW ROYALTY” pieces are your personal favorites and why?
KG: This is a very personal collection and I don’t know if I have a favorite piece. Fifty cent was the first piece and I continued from there. Each one has unique details, and captures a persona.

TE: You’ve had several requests for portraits from the likes of Lil’Wayne and Lady Gaga. What has the response been from other artists you have depicted?
KG: It’s a great feeling for others to appreciate my work. It was an amazing feeling when P’Diddy tweeted about the piece I created of his likeness. It is so much more fun when regular people see it though. Their eyes light up, and it’s more interesting to me to see their reaction to their idols depicted in this way.

TE: How did you go about choosing which artists to portray in the styles and poses chosen?
KG: I’m a huge hip-hop fan, so I definitely wanted to portray hip-hop artists. I wanted to make sure that I captured not only each artist’s real life personality, but also their huge hip-hop personas. The styles and poses chosen just came to me as I thought about their personalities and style.

TE: Do you have any plans to continue this series depicting musicians of other genres?
KG: This series was inspired by Hip-Hop and I don’t have plans at the moment to venture out to other genres.

TE: As you probably know, Miami loves it’s street art and it would be an honor to have you represented in our streets. Do you have any plans to grace our walls with your amazing work?
KG: I love Miami. I won’t get a chance to work on any other projects this time around, but I do have plans to come back. I really want to do something for the city.

TE: Given that your work is grounded in social commentary, what message do you hope to convey with this series?
KG: I got my start as a street artist and listened to hip-hop while working on my pieces. Over time, my father approached me and asked me to respect art if I planned to make a career out of it. I went on to study the works of great masters such as Van Dyke and the kings, queens and nobility they depicted in Europe. It was then that it occurred to me that in American society; although we don’t have established royalty or nobility, our versions of kings and queens are our hip-hop artists. They don’t own grand horses or have servants like the nobility of the past, but their horses have been replaced with grand vehicles, posses and assistants that cater to their every need. American society idolizes them the same way royalty was idolized in the 17th century. We want to talk and dress like them. We want to wear their luxurious jewels and clothes. The ironic twist in this series is  that many of these musical artists went from rags to riches. They are people we can look up to. They are also African-American and would not have been painted and depicted as nobility and royalty in Europe during that time.

Miami can’t wait to view Kai’s “NOW ROYALTY” collection, and most definitely cannot wait to see what Kai has in store for our streets!

Copyright This is Not Art LLC

Copyright This is Not Art LLC

Artist Tola Osokoya

By Tatiana Enriquez

Get to know local artist Tola Osokoya and marvel at his shots of the proverbial “Big Apple” with his own Apple: iPhone, that is.

Chase Jervais said “the best camera in the world is the one that’s with you”. Tola Osokoya is certainly making magic with his iPhone camera. The selfie-addict’s dream- machine sits unassumingly in his pocket. However, when Tola takes it into his hands, it becomes a weapon of mass seduction. The right angle, the right lighting,  a burst of flash, and a moment is captured forever. Siri may need a cig after all this excitement!

More about Tola

Tola was born in Lagos, Nigeria on January 9th, 1981 and immigrated with his family to the United States thereafter. Growing up,  Tola didn’t have much interest in photography. He recently started photography as a hobby and discovered his passion for capturing beautiful and interesting imagery through the lens. He decided to use his iPhone to snap shots and Snapseed for editing. Tola’s inspiration comes from his love of architecture. He confesses “I slowly gravitated towards landscape and scenery photography. I see a concept of what’s going on in the moment and I try to capture it as I see fit. I’ve always been fascinated by high rises as well as old cathedrals. Everywhere I go I always keep my eyes peeled looking for something out of the norm. I pay attention to details and this is what often drives me to take the next shot. From how light bounces off an object or building, to rhythm and patterns that the wind creates in the sand, everything all around me inspires me”. Tola’s captivating work has been featured on several sites including miamism.com, artofmiami.com and instagramersgallery.com. He has also garnered many followers and fans on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Tola believes that  “Miami has a great art scene that’s been around for ages. Unfortunately, it’s only in certain areas and it’s overwhelmed by the night life the city offers. Therefore, not a lot of youth are interested in it. If more awareness is pumped into the city via social media, I believe it can make a strong push in the growth of art for today’s youth.”

He also offers these words to new artists on the scene, “In my opinion,  art is subjective but also has to have visual aesthetic. For anyone that’s just starting off, that would be my advice to them. Believe in what you are doing and make sure it’s pleasing to the eye”.

So, what’s next for Tola? He says, “at the current time I’m perfecting my skill. I have a love for monographic photography, I think that’s what I want to get into next. I am also currently in talks with Polaroid about their current project Fotolab”.

“PAMM” Downtown Miami Copyright Tola Osokoya

“Frank Gehry” New York City Copyright Tola Osokoya

 

“Camilla” Homestead, Fl Copyright Tola Osokoya

Follow Tola Osokoya:

http://www.miamism.com/miamism-fridays-wynwood-art-walk/

http://web.stagram.com/n/hi_tola/

artofmiami.com

instagramersgallery.com

www.iphoneogram.com

Tweets by TolaBBang

http://ink361.com/app/users/9677992/photos

Artist Miguel Franco

Get to know local artist Miguel Franco: an artist with transcending dreams.

By: Tatiana Enriquez

Miguel  believes that the “Miami Art Scene is a great resource for up and coming new artists who want to be seen and heard. Overall, I think it is an excellent organization, and I applaud what they stand for.” He believes that in order for our art community to grow, “networking is important to keep something like this alive. I definitely am a promoter for them, and I try to educate people on their existence and purpose any time I can.”

His advice to new and emerging artists is to “make an effort with your art, and have all of your pieces come from your soul. There is a day for all artists who persevere, to succeed.”

So, what’s next for Miguel Franco, and what can we look forward to? He says, “at this time, I am working on several pieces of new art. I am working on a future partnership with a men’s clothing designer. I have plans to exhibit my art in the near future; however no date has been set. For future dates, you can follow me on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/miguel.franco.731?fref=ts: Miguel Franco.

Mediums:

Acrylic

Oil

“El Descanso”, copyright Miguel Franco Art

“Coeficiente y Mas”, copyright Miguel Franco Art

“La Maquina Del Tiempo Cubana”, copyright Miguel Franco Art

List of Exhibitions and/or awards received:

2008- Exhibition Walter & Cane Gallery

2009- Collective Exhibition “Art of Freedom” Gallery

2010- Renne Gallery

2010- Leal’s Gallery

2010- Collective Exhibition “Artistas Por Una America Verde”

2010- First Fame Doral Park Country Club Exhibition

2011- Moon Lighter Premier Exposition

2011- Miami Art Basel

2011- Collection Exhibition “Art Festival” Wynwood Art District

2012- Third Annual F.A.M.E. Event, Doral Country Club

2013- October 26 Hispanic Cultural Festival in Coral Gables

Follow Miguel:

https://www.facebook.com/miguel.franco.731?fref=ts

Artist Laelanie Larach 

Get to know Laelanie Larach An artist who is entranced by the melodies of silence.

By: Tatiana Enriquez

Ansel Adams once said, “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”  Local artist Laelanie Larach shares in this philosophy. She dances within the spaces, colors and melodies of silence. Letting it guide her to uncover beauty and to create her multifaceted and polyrhythmic works of art.

More about Laelanie:

Laelanie Larach Nieves was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. A self-taught artist, she created her first masterpiece at age 15 titled “Mysterious Forrest”. As she matured as an artist, she began changing her style of painting and achieved an innovative style where she was able to combine her two passions; photography and painting. She blended the two in single, trio-dimensional artworks. Her work tells a story that begins at the center of her pieces. This story is then framed, or surrounded by another segment of the canvas with a touch of fantasy and surrealism. The center piece is almost always completely oil paint, giving it a surreal glossy enamel base dripping effect which is reflective of the lines and tones of the central piece and concept. In other works, she only uses oil on canvas in both the center piece and surrounding piece. When one looks closely at each artwork, we can see that she doesn’t follow any specific pattern.

Recently, she has  participated in two fundraising events; “Covers for the Cold”, a Fundraiser benefiting Camillus House (camillushouse.org) in Miami and the expo-sale “Arte y la Paz ” for Fundacion Sampedrana Del Nino in her native Honduras. She says “I always try to support social works and foundations who wish to work with me, to expose my works. I support people with very basic art talent or who are starting, advising and giving tips for their artistic development. My experience in the industry overcame obstacles, and I contribute with my artistic knowledge, helping to promote new talent in this field.”

So what advice does she give new, emerging local artists in Miami? She says, “The first word that goes through my mind on this question is PERSEVERANCE. Never lose faith in your dreams and always believe in what you do. In Art, there are no barriers stopping you from achieving your essence as an artist. Just go for it!  Don’t think twice when you have an opportunity.”

So what’s next for Laelanie? She says, “I’m focused on Art Basel season. My next goal is to share my new collection, in which I’m putting all my effort so I hope everyone will enjoy it!”  Be sure to check out her artworks at ART CENTER WYNWOOD (149 NW 36 ST Wynwood Florida 33127) during Art Basel 2013 (Dec. 5-8 2013) till the end of December.

Mediums:

Oils

Acrylics

Photography

“Lily Pad”,  Copyright Laelanie Larach Art

“Silent Whisper”, Copyright Laelanie Larach Art

“Power of Faith”, Copyright Laelanie Larach

 

Exhibitions in the United States:

Downtown Art Days ( 2012)

Brickell Art Walk (2012)

Stepping Out for the Arts Luncheon (2012)

Pardos Exhibition (2012)

Elite Fine Art Gallery-Art Basel Season( 2012)

Epic Hotel Area 31 ( 2012)

Covers for the Cold Fundraiser benefiting Camillus House(2012)

Exhibition “Journey into the Soul” Art Fusion Galleries (2013)

Exhibition at Marina Blue (2013)

For Artists by Artists at Haven (2013)

Raw / Marvel at LMNT Gallery (2013)

Art Takes Times Square (2012)

 Exhibitions in Honduras:

Exhibition Innovacion at Hilton Hotel

Exhibition Expoventa Arte y Paz

Exhibition Mujeres Artistas (2010)

Photography Exhibition at CCS (2010)

Follow Laelanie:

www.laelanielarach.com

https://www.facebook.com/LaelanieArtGallery

Artist Monique Lassooij

By Tatiana Enriquez

Get to know local artist Monique Lassooij: an artist with a sharp sense of humor and unwavering passion for her community!

Jimi Hendrix once said “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace”. Local Artist Monique Lassooij injects us with her passion for art and reminds us of the importance of giving back to our community. We are truly lucky she decided to hop on over to our side of the pond!

More about Monique Lassooij:

Monique Lassooij was born and raised in The Netherlands and moved to Miami, Florida as an adult. In The Netherlands Ms. Lassooij started out as an abstract painter but over the years she developed a passion for figurative painting. After having studied with Dutch artists such as Pien Hazenberg and Henk Hubenet, she attended the Royal Academy for Fine Arts in The Hague and went on to receive several commissions for public places such as the Town Hall of the city of Scheveningen in The Netherlands. Her paintings hang in numerous private collections in the US and abroad as well. Ms. Lassooij says she finds her inspiration in colors and how those colors affect the subject whether she is painting on canvas, wood or a wall. Her subjects are often not placed within a context-giving background, allowing a single or combination of colors and geometric shapes to illuminate the chosen topic.

She is also very active in community programs within the Magic City. She says, “I like to participate in projects that are relatively small and direct like I do now with “Art that Feeds” from Touching Miami with Love. This is a project where artists create their art on a plate, which then gets to be auctioned off or sold and the proceeds go to feed children in the city of  Overtown. Each plate will provide a meal for at least 35 children. (for more information check out https://www.facebook.com/artthatfeedsTML) or http://www.touchingmiamiwithlove.org/. She also painted doors for the “Revolving Doors Project” which focuses on homeless children and youth and especially the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) population. She says she is especially interested in this cause because these individuals have an even harder time than most on the streets since many “facilities will not open their doors for them.  Don’t forget that homeless children/youth are at a super high risk to fall in the hands of sex traffickers and other criminals.”  She also participated with them in a project where she helped “a great young man” create his door.

Last year, Monique  was invited by fellow artist Mano and his wife Cuqui to participate with Easter Seals South Florida, where she donated one of her paintings from the series “DOGS”.  Her “Blue Chihuahua” went to a very happy new owner and helped raise money for the cause.  She recalls, “…then I received a wonderful picture from the new owner of his chihuahua in front of the painting. That was really a cherry on top of it all! I think that is what I like about donating or creating pieces for a good cause… when you see a happy new owner of your piece, it feels great… and the thought that whenever a plate I made is sold at least 35 children in Overtown have a good meal, which helps them to perform better in school. Or when volunteers are able to save a dog / cat from euthanasia and get a new home because of a painting I donated… yep, that is truly a biggie for me!”

She is passionate about her city and the art within it and feels that in order to help it continue to grow  “[we should] not compare Miami with San Francisco or New York.  The Culture, the people, the history, the demographics are so different that it does not make sense at all to me. Lets be proud of our own Miami Art Identity and build from there. [Also], Miami Art goes a lot further than the flamingos and palm trees that some people outside of Miami think it is all about here. The galleries, museums and the local government should be more aware and cultivate local talent. Ask yourself: How weird is it if a Miami museum would not have local artists in their collection?”

How does Monique view our local art scene? She says “I love it! It is very diverse and colorful. It is a relatively new and a rapid developing art scene. I like how artists here are supportive of other artists. There is also a lot of collaboration going on and people here are not afraid of going outside their comfort zone. Look at the Good Wall on Calle Ocho: dozens of artists creating this wonderful display of local art and not everyone on that wall is a muralist.  On the other hand… no scene without their ‘haters and scammers’. ‘Haters’ for me is not a bad sign but an indication that I am doing something right. You can meet people who do a lot of talking but basically are after free art or the artists’ money. It might not be typical for the Miami art scene but it is something that I really noticed here. My personal experience however, is that the majority of people in the Miami art scene are good people and looking out for each other. I am proud to be part of it.”

Her advice to new artists on the scene is “work, work, work: realize that being an artist is hard work. It is not only creating but also marketing, sales, public relations… oh, you are a business. Go around and see what other artists in the community are doing. Meet artists, gallery owners, the shakers and the movers of the art scene in Miami. Learn from them, don’t be afraid to ask questions, have business cards and hand them out (yes, you paid for them, but not to sit on them). Be your own worst critic, keep dead lines, and be on time at venues where you are showing. It sounds obvious but not so much here.”

So, what next for Monique?! She says “I am currently working on the series ‘Proprietary Innocence’ (aka my disturbed children) and hopefully later this year it will be going in one or two shows (in and outside of Miami) but not yet 100% confirmed. I am also working on a large panel for the Sincerity Project that will be shown in June 2014 in Studio 18 in Pembroke Pines curated by Jill Slaughter.And of course, I will be starting the painting classes soon together with Eleazar Delgado at the McCormick Place in Downtown Miami”

“Little Jimi” Copyright Monique lassooij Art

Copyright Monique Lassooij Art

Copyright Monique Lassooij Art

Exhibitons:

• April 6 thru 27, 2013: All Drawing and Sketchbook Show – Blu Moon Studio of Art, Coconut Grove, FL
• February 18, 2013 thru February 15 2014: ITTY BITTY KITTY SHOW, http://arterpillar.blogspot.com/
• December 15, 2012 thru February 15, 2013: RED – MANO Fine Art Project Space, Miami, FL
• December 8-9, 2012: Art Basel Pop-up – The Creatures of the Night, Gallery Delight – The Station, Miami, FL
• October 18, 2012: Meet Venus and Mo (presentation and opening of 2 murals) – LoF Center, Coral Gables, FL
• September 19 thru 30, 2012: Yo MOMMA in the House – 12345 West Dixie Studio and Gallery, Miami, FL
• August 11 – September 07, 2012: Wynwood Art Walk – B M de Varona Studio. Miami FL
• July 14 – September 1, 2012: Earth Angels Outreach – The GAB Studio, Miami, FL
• December 1 thru 5, 2011: Seventeen – The Gallery at Cortada Studio, Miami, FL
• December 3, 2011: Art Zoo – Finnegan’s River, Miami, FL
• October 24 thru November 18, 2011: Darkness – Rossetti Fine Art Gallery, Pompano Beach FL
• October 15 thru November 12, 2011: Out of Context – Galerie Jenner, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• September 17 thru November 8, 2011: Mona…Mona…Mona…An Ode to the Mona Lisa – MANO Fine Art Project Space, Miami, FL
• July 1 thru 31, 2011: Art of T-Shirt – Sol Gallery CANDO Arts CO-OP, Miami Beach, FL
• April 2 & 3, 2011: Spring for the Arts – Galleria, Ft Lauderdale, FL
• February 23, 2011: River of Art – Bar 721, South Beach, FL
• February 11 thru April 11, 2011: Cheesecake Pinup Show – Galerie Jenner, Ft Lauderdale, FL
• December 11, 2010: Pop-up at the Art Center South Florida, South Beach, FL
• November 26, 2010: White Party Weekend – The Bookstore in the Grove, Coconut Grove, FL
• July 3 thru August 10, 2010: Words & Symbols – Windish-Hunt Fine Art Gallery, Coconut Grove, FL
• April 14, 2010: 5 Minutes of Fame – Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, FL
• February 6 thru February 28, 2010: Circus Circus – Windisch-Hunt Fine Art Gallery, Coconut Grove, FL
• August 8, 2009: Fresh from the Fridge – Solo exposition Focaccia Rustica, Coconut Grove, FL
• June 6, 2009: Summer Salon – Windisch-Hunt Fine Art Gallery, Coconut Grove, FL

 Follow Monique Lassooij at:

https://www.facebook.com/moniquelassooijart

http://lassooij-fine-art.blogspot.com/

Artist Paul Urdahl

Get to know local artist Paul Urdahl: An artist with endless possibilities!

By: Tatiana Enriquez

“The Great Perhaps” were the last words of the poet Francois Rabelais, and author John Green brought these words back into our vocabulary in his novel Looking for Alaska. It’s a great phrase because it reminds us that there is adventure yet to be had, and that there is beauty and excitement in not knowing exactly what’s going to happen all of the time. In discovering the work of local artist Paul Urdahl, I was reminded of these words and learned that it’s a philosophy he shares as well. When creating his abstract, vivid and  colorful pieces, he prefers the unpredictability of pouring vs. the more controlled brush method because he feels it’s important to “embrace the unexpected things in life and go with the flow”. The result is the  limitless possibilities and freedom expressed in his pieces.

More about Paul Urdahl:

Paul Stephen Urdahl resides in Surfside, Fl.  He studied Interior Design and has worked for over two decades as a Lighting Designer.  Painting has always been a passion of his and is another outlet for him to release his creative energy. His style has evolved from structured to geometric to more free-flowing and organic. His paintings are based on the four classic elements; Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. He uses bold and  dynamic colors such as reds and oranges,  muted smoky tones, soothing and calming colors, and warm comforting tones.

Paul says that his inspiration comes from “…many different things. I love the amazing colors, shapes, and textures found in nature and that is my main inspiration.” He observes that “…the Miami art scene seems to be growing at a very rapid pace.” He believes this is in “…part due to the international recognition we receive from Art Basel. [We also have] the Second Saturday Art Walk in Wynwood. It brings out an eclectic mix of people enjoying art, music, and food from the popular food trucks…First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Miami is also very exciting. The new art museum downtown is also going to draw a lot of international art lovers to Miami.” Paul feels that we can help the Miami art scene continue to grow by “promoting Miami’s art scene via media and social media”. When asked what words of advice he would give new artists, Paul says “Be patient and get your art out there to be seen. A very easy way to show your art is via social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. It’s a great no-cost way to be seen by thousands of people. Also, contact restaurants, salons, offices and offer to hang your work on consignment. They get art with no investment and you get to show your art to the world. [Last, but not least] participate in local art shows.”

So what’s next for Paul Urdahl, what can we expect to see?  Paul enthuses, “I’m planning on creating some functional art which combines LED lighting and sculpture.  Like my Elements Etc. page on Facebook to see all my latest creations and find out about my upcoming shows!”

Mediums
Acrylics

Paper

Vintage magazines

“Unity” Copyright Paul Urdahl

“Collide” Copyright Paul Urdahl

 Exhibitions and Awards

Fuses Studio-Pancakes and Booze Art Show

Miami Gab Studio- Wynwood Art District Miami

AWA Gallery-Abstract Show Fort Lauderdale

Gallery 101 Fort Lauderdale

First Place-Gallery 101 Abstract Show Fort Lauderdale

Third Place 12” x 12” Show Gallery 101 Fort Lauderdale

Contact and Follow at:

Virtual gallery at www.elementsetc.com . Summer Sale savings can be found in the Elements Etc. eSho

***Prices range from $25.00 for the Mini Element Gift Sets to $3,500.00 for a large scale stretched canvas piece. All pieces are framed or have finished edges, so they are ready to hang.

Artist Kareem David Piper

Get to know Kareem David Piper: Student of universal truths, purveyor of cosmic beauty!

By Tatiana Enriquez

Nirvana is a state of enduring happiness that is free of conditions. Most, if not all of us, will probably never reach it.  Gaze upon one of Kareem David Piper’s pieces, and you will find yourself, at the very least, believing you are already there. Kareem’s artwork is radiant, compelling, and bursting with introspection and spirituality. It questions everything and holds nothing back. His images reflect his experiences, culture, and desire to explore universal truths. They take us on a journey to what was, what is, and what lies beyond our limited consciousness. Simply put,  his work speaks to the soul and enlightens our minds.

More About Kareem:

Kareem David Piper was born in Trinidad and migrated to Florida at the age of 7. He was quickly scouted and earned a full scholarship to New World School of the Arts. Coming from the rich and vibrant culture that is Trinidad culture,  he took to the arts from a very early age.  However, due to family issues, he returned to Trinidad and did not come back to Miami for another decade. Once back, he joined the Marine Corps and served for 10 years. Kareem’s mixed descent is reflected in his work which does not conform to any one specific genre or style. In his own words, “his work aspires to narrate his own journey of rediscovery of ancient truths and wisdom; especially the power of love.”

 Kareem shows love for his community and gives back by participating in philanthropic efforts. He has donated his artwork and has participated in several fundraising/philanthropic events, including Covers for the Cold, a fundraiser held in December 2013 benefiting Camillus House, and 2 Girls for a Cause, a fundraiser benefiting the Diabetes Research Institute and Walk with Walgreens, held at the Hangar Gallery in Wynwood this past Friday, April 5th.

 So, where does his inspiration come from? Kareem says “[it] comes from the universe and the collective consciousness that binds us all together.” He feels that the Miami Art Scene “…is very young and full of energy and opportunity. I believe that there is lots of love and it is a great launching pad for any emerging artist.” In order for our art community to grow, his view is that “as an artist, and art enthusiast, I think in order to help it grow we simply need to utilize any and all resources at hand to expose the amazing talent that exist in our city, which is already being done. Miami and Miami-based artists are doing amazing things within the art community here and abroad but there should be more outlets to let those things be known, perhaps even outside the confines of our city.” He offers this advice to new artists on the scene, “firstly, I would tell them to believe in themselves, visualize what direction they want to take their art, then act. Participate, get involved, meet people, remain humble and above all else just do your art, don’t forget what it means to you, then give it to the world so that they can have their way with it.”

What’s next for Kareem’s art? He says, “I am currently working on and planning a couple of shows within the Miami area and overseas, no dates yet. As far as what is next, just growth, art is living in me and it grows as I do.”

Copyright Kareem David Piper Art

Copyright Kareem David Piper Art

Exhibitions:

Culture Clash, 1310 Gallery Fort Lauderdale Fl,  July 2012.

Hangar Gallery group Shows, Wynwood Fl,   2012-2013.

Basil Pop Up “Creatures of the Night” The Station, Miami ,Fl.November 2012.

City of Pembroke Pines Bi-Annual Juried Show, Studio 18, Pembroke Pines Fl.

Solo Exhibition, “Ascension”  Blu  Moon Gallery/ Studio Coconut Grove, Fl. January 2013

Follow Kareem at:

https://www.facebook.com/kareem.piper?fref=ts

Artist Ivan Roque

Get to know local artist Ivan Roque: an artist who is as passionate about his community as he is about his art!

By Tatiana Enriquez

Ivan Roque’s artwork compels us to step up close to it. It is not the kind of artwork you can absorb at a glance. His pieces draw you in and entice your eyes to go on a visual journey. They are a menagerie of images and words that often surround one central image, which demands attention, yet has an unassuming subtlety of its own. His pieces convey messages of love, community, and the battle between good and evil,  among many other themes. Simply put, there is nothing simple about them.

In addition to creating these thought-provoking and complex pieces, Ivan also gives back to  his community and supports the local Miami art scene. Every year, he donates one of his pieces to the Locks of Love Foundation (www.locksoflove.org). He also recently participated in an event for Camillus House (www.camillushouse.org) called “Covers for the Cold”,  where he also donated artwork to help raise funds to help end homelessness.

When asked what his thoughts are on the Miami art scene, his response was “…it’s great…there are a lot of creatives out here really trying to push the boundaries and not only watching the scene grow, but [watching] the city itself flourish.” He also expressed that “…we need to get more collectors out here in order for the artwork to move…and [to shine a spotlight on] Miami artists to other parts of the world.” Through these efforts, Ivan feels the Miami art scene will undoubtedly grow.

So, what advice would he give new and emerging artists? Ivan says, “network, research, sacrifice, show as much as you can and work like there’s no tomorrow. Oh and did I mention network?”

Ivan shows love for his city, not only through his work, but through his relentless support of the local scene and involvement in community outreach organizations.

So , what’s next? Ivan says,  “Shhhh its a suprise”!

More about Ivan Roque:

Born December of 1991, Ivan J. Roque is an urban artist from Miami, Florida. He was raised in the inner city of the infamous Carol City and has always had a passion for art, hip hop, and culture alike. His influences range from both old masters such as Salvador Dali and Jean Michel Basquiat to the geniuses of today such as Justin Bua, Shepard Fairey and GG. Roque has been able to accomplish many achievements for his young age, such as working with the rap group sensation RVIDXR KLVN and alongside established artists such as Stephen Gamson, Gabriel Gimenez and Ruben Ubiera. Also not to mention that he was chosen to be a part of acclaimed Pop Up Pianos Miami during Art Basel and a commission piece by the Town of Surfside. He is currently studying to obtain his Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Visual Arts at the Miami International University of Art & Design. His work is extremely fresh and something to really be looking onto this coming year as we begin to see what can come of those who are forever lost.

Mediums:

Mixed Media
Collages
Aerosol
Ready made and found objects

Copyright Ivan Roque Art

Copyright Ivan Roque Art

Exhibitions

2010- Gallerie Jenner’s Cheesecake Exhibition
2011- Hope For Haiti Group Show
2011- Nova Rotoract Group Show
2012- Locks For A Cause (Donation)
2012- Karen Ledbetter Galleries “The 3rd Art Realm
2012- MIU Conglomerate Juried Exhibition
2012- Art Fusion Gallery “Reflections & Passions”
2012- City of Surfside Turtles Public Art
2012- Wynwood Cigar Factory and Gallery
2012- Ave 74 “300” Group Show
2012- Ave 74 “Miami’s Most Liked Artist” Showcase
2012- Paragon Gallery “International Ballet Festival”
2012- Yo Miami’s “Average Joe” Group Show
2012- Paragon Gallery “Road to Basel” Group Show
2012- Bear and Bird Gallery “Monster Mash Show”
2012- Art Basel’s Pop Up Piano Miami
2012- Del Toro Shoes Collaboration/Group Show for Art Basel
2012- Art Fusion “Fusion IV Seducing the Globe” Exhition
2012- Camillus House “Covers for the Cold” Charity Event
2012- Yo Miamis Art Basel “Miconic” Exhibition
2013- The Station “Dada Pop Up” Gallery
2013- NAC Gallery “Fine Art Auction”
2013- LMNT
2013- Yo Miami’s “Average Joe” Group Show

Follow Ivan at:

https://www.facebook.com/ivan.roque.79?ref=ts&fref=ts

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/ivan-roque.html

Get to know Xibie Corea: a brilliant artist, with a brilliant heart!

By Tatiana Enriquez

Xibie has been an integral part of the Miami art scene for several years. Not only through exhibiting her beautiful artwork in several shows and exhibitions, but also through creating and participating in several events and festivals that celebrate and spotlight local and emerging artists. She has also donated her time and art to support local fundraisers benefitting organizations such as Camillus House. Xibie radiates with positive energy that is fueled by her passion for ART and her community!

More about Xibie:

Miami local artist, born in São Paulo, Brazil. Moved to the United States in 1993. Got involved with the arts and received her Bachelors in Fine Arts from New World School of the Arts/University of Florida in 2006. Xibie has been working in her field as an art director for many years. In 2003 she joined “Art by Girls”  and that venture happened ‘till 2007, where she curated and managed exhibitions as well as showed some of her own work. Now Xibie is working independently within commercial arts, painting, photography and is much involved with the “blogging” world. Xibie’s main influences are Warhol, Basquiat, Miró and Mackenzie Thorpe (as well as illustrators such as Natalie Dee, Exploding Dog, etc). Oh, and most definitely street art/graffiti and stickers! Being categorized as “pop” as well as “neo-expressionism” artist, Xibie is eager to keep on developing her work while becoming more involved with the community.

Mediums:

1. -Acrylics
2. -Photography
3. -Graphic Design
4. -Mixed Media

Copyright Xibie Corea Art

Copyright Xibie Corea Art

Exhibitions_Awards:

2012 – Doral Art Fest – October

2012 – yo MOMMA in the HOUSE. the SHOW. by Myra Wexler

2012 – Representation (09/2012) at Alberto Linero Gallery, Wynwood

2012 – BAW Brickell Artwalk – August/September

2012 – Artist of the month Sept. Jolt Radio Station http://www.joltradio.org/

2012 – Donation/Art Auction – No Boundaries Prosthetic Foundation

2012 – Digital Art Beatz (Grey Area – Wynwood)

2012 – Battle of the Characters – Xibie Productions (CS Gallery)

2012 – Finalist – Jordan Winery Contest 4on4 Miami – Bakehouse

2012 – Representation (starting MARCH) at THE HANGAR, Wynwood

2011 – WeMerge Magazine Featured Artist (Winter ‘11 – Vol 4. Issue 4)

2011 – Artist Collective Extravaganza – Local Radiation (The Stage)

2010 – Art Basel Group Exhibition (PrecisionArt)

2010 – _glitch. – Xibie Productions (Chirinos Sanchez Gallery)

2009 – {exposed} – Xibie Productions (Color my Gallery)

2009 – Images of Voice – Art by Girls (Color my Gallery)

2007 – The Little Show – Art by Girls (Color my Gallery)

2007 – The Devil Made Me Do It – Gallery 138

2006 – By Nature – Art by Girls (International Institute of Fine Arts, Dance)

2006 – BFA Show – New World School of the Arts

2004 – Jazz Band CD Cover + Label  – Design Contest Winner (NWSA)

2004 – Miami-Dade Tie – Design Contest Winner (NWSA)

2004 – Rising Stars (NWSA)

2003 – X-mas Show – Art by Girls (Color my Gallery)

2003 – Ruff Draft – Art by Girls (Color my Gallery)

Follow Xibie at:

http://www.xibiecorea.com/xibiecorea.com/Welcome.html

https://twitter.com/Xibie

http://www.facebook.com/ArtistXibieCorea?fref=ts