Lifeline @ Carmichael 02.05 - 02.26

Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art is proud to present Lifeline, a group exhibition featuring work by Alex Hornest, Ilia of Btoy, Jim Darling, and Sesper. Artwork featured in the exhibition will include watercolor on paper, oil and acrylic on wood, acrylic on canvas, and mixed media collage. A preview reception for the exhibition will be held on Thursday, February 5th, 2009 from 7.00pm – 10.00pm. The exhibition will be open for viewing through Thursday, February 26th ’09 from 1.00pm – 7.00pm.

Alex Hornest
Painter, sculptor and mixed media artist from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Alex Hornest employs a diverse range of materials in his work to explore the urban, recreational and inner lives of the people around him. He draws inspiration from the complex relationship between cities and their inhabitants and seeks to capture the essence of human beings and what moves them in the midst of chaos, unrest and routine. Alex has exhibited his work in group and solo exhibitions throughout Brazil and the major cities of the US, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami.

Ilia of Btoy
To gaze at a piece by Ilia is to enter into a magical universe populated by acid-house warriors and chic lost souls. Set against stark retro landscapes, the artist’s muted palette and delicate lines enhance the turbulence captured within their striking, moody faces. Ilia is one half of Barcelona duo Btoy. For years, Btoy have been adding life to the influential Catalan street art scene, and more recently into a grimy tunnel at the first Cans Festival in London.

Jim Darling
Shape, composition and emotion play a large role in the work of American artist Jim Darling. “I attempt to take complex ideas and scenarios and boil them down to a more subtle subject matter,” he comments. “I then juxtapose this simplicity with intricate details. I try not to spell out the entire story, but rather set a tone and deliver elements for a scene. My hope and goal is that the viewer can feel that tone and build the story with the elements that I've constructed.” After a childhood in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, Jim moved to Denver to study design. Four years ago, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as an Art Director, Illustrator, and Fine Artist. He is currently traveling the country with his wife, making art and looking for the next city to call home.

Sesper
Brazilian artist Alexandre “Sesper” Cruz spent his adolescence absorbed in music and skateboarding – building ramps, making fanzines that documented the Sao Paulo art scene, and recording k-7 compilations. These interests influenced the sticker and paste up poster campaigns he launched around the city in 1999. Sesper is best known for his unique mixed media artwork. He uses recycled material such as paper, cardboard and wood as his surface and paints over these with oil pastel and latex, incorporating layer upon layer of texture and color. A member of the renowned Brazilian art collective, the Famiglia Baglione, Sesper has participated in and filmed many of their live painting and gallery installations around Brazil.

Shamelessly Boosted From: Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art