DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY: Seeing Things by Greg.Craola.Simkins

Seeing Things is a solo exhibition by Greg.Craola.Simkins, a painter and illustrator based in Southern California.

Simkins began drawing at an early age and started doing graffiti under name Craola. Graffiti art became his impetus for creating and gave him the confidence to paint large works. In addition, it taught him perspective, color theory and further developed artistic skills, which later translated into his work with acrylics. His outlandish dreamt of characters are part of a fantasy sideshow, inspired by elements from pop culture, the old masters, nature, carnival kitsch and most importantly, a warped imagination. It is the careful weaving of these elements that makes Greg Simkins a sought after surrealist painter today.

Simkins’ work has been featured in numerous group exhibitions and has successfully sold out five solo exhibitions. His art is seen in a wide variety of industries from clothing to video games and has also come to life in the form of toys. His client/collaboration list includes Disney, Mattel, Upper Playground, Juxtapoz, To Die For, Vans, Converse, AFI, Saosin, Gym Class Heroes, Pennywise, STRANGEco, Ningyoushi, Kid Robot, Zero Friends, Epitaph, Dark Horse, Iron Fist and Pulse International.

Seeing Things features new paintings and will be on display in the lower level of the FIFTY24SF Gallery from February 5 – 26, 2009.

UPSTAIRS GALLERY: Magic Trick by Anthony Lister

Magic Trick is a solo exhibition by Anthony Lister, a painter and installation artist born in Australia, and based in New York City.

Anthony Lister’s creations are described as brilliant, broken and abstracted figural works depicting the darker side of both heroes and villains. His fractured renderings place them as imperfect and exaggerated, post-post-modern opposites to how they were conceived – as symbols of modernist humanism. Lister’s work is a reflection and interpretation of the constant bombardment of media, and its relationship with the viewer. His mixed media technique of utilizing various types of paint, from spray paint to watercolor to acrylics, gives his work a depth that has made him one of the most sought-after contemporary artists today.

Lister has had solo and group exhibitions around the world and has received numerous awards including the Mosman Art Prize (2006), Prometheus Art Award (2005) and Metro 5 Award. He and his work have been featured in international publications including Arktip, Lino Magazine, Overspray Magazine, Oyster Magazine, The New York Times, among many others.

Magic Trick features new paintings on display at the upper level of the FIFTY24SF Gallery from February 5 – 26, 2009.