Johnny Romeo
dal 20/2/2013 al 29/3/2013
Segnalato da
20/2/2013
Johnny Romeo
Porter Contemporary, New York
Grindhouse. With Romeo's arsenal of brash, expressive colours, pop-inflected punk grit, and graphic imagery, each work is a visual cocktail of seductive vixens, high-octane cars and skulls that laugh in the face of death.
Porter Contemporary is pleased to announce Grindhouse, a solo exhibition of paintings by Australian pop artist Johnny Romeo from February 21 through March 30, 2013 with an opening reception with the artist on February 21st from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.
Romeo sees this exhibition as his love letter to grindhouse cinema, with the new series being a celebration of all things sex, drugs and rock’n’roll. “Romeo’s pop-savvy approach lends the series an air of witty nostalgia in this tongue-in-cheek examination of the grim world of grindhouse,” says Jessica L. Porter, Founder and Director of Porter Contemporary.
This is Romeo’s debut exhibition in New York. Like the films of its namesake, the series exudes seductive, violent energy. With Romeo’s arsenal of brash, expressive colours, pop-inflected punk grit, and graphic imagery, each work is a visual cocktail of seductive vixens, high-octane cars and skulls that laugh in the face of death.
Highlights from the exhibition include Death Stare, pictured above and Smoke House, pictured right, featuring phrases such as ‘Love Gun None’ alluding to a world where love ends with the kiss of death. “Drawing on the quirky nihilism of Tarantino and the vixens of classic Russ Meyers, GRINDHOUSE is my exploration of our fascination with death and destruction,” says artist Johnny Romeo.
About the Artist
Johnny Romeo is an internationally acclaimed Australian pop painter whose energetic appropriation of comic book aesthetics and pop culture is capturing attention worldwide. With GQ Magazine describing his art as 'part punk, part pop', he draws inspiration from neo-Expressionism, rock'n'roll, graffiti art and Pop art.
Johnny Romeo's work critiques the madness of a modern world driven by pervasive advertising, hollow materialism and wasteful excess, exploring the way in which we construct our identities through the idolization of pop culture and brand-name heroes.
Romeo is represented by many of Australia's top galleries with a number of sell-out exhibitions across Sydney, Perth, the Gold Coast, Alice Springs, Darwin and New Zealand. His work has also caught the attention of publications such as the Sydney Morning Herald, GQ Style Australia, Vogue, Grazia and the Australian Art Review, as well as the ABC 7:30 Report, SBS and Foxtel Australian arts channel STVDIO.
His recent work was included in the 2012 Urban Pop Survey in Los Angeles, and there are three major US exhibitions planned for 2013 in addition to a series of commissions by LA County which will see the artist become the first non-US based artist to incorporate his work into transportation projects throughout Los Angeles.
Contact: Sylvie Monstret
media@portercontemporary.com
212.696.7432
Opening Reception with the Artist: Feb 21, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Porter Contemporary
548 W. 28th Street (3rd Floor), New York
Gallery Hours: Tues & Wed by appointment; Thurs 11 - 8 PM; Fri & Sat 11 - 6 PM
Free Admission