First Exhibiting Artist of the New Year!

We are very excited about the New Year and the artists we'll be working with and exhibiting! We'd love to introduce you to this upcoming artist...

Ray Ferrer is an East Coast based artist, who, through his work, seeks to utilize various harmonies and ideas to visually engage his audience. He uses his art as an opportunity to experiment with the range of possibilities allowed through his choice of materials, spray paint and hand cut stencils. “I am vehemently opposed to using art as a means to rely on overly-complex theories or ideas to prop up mediocre images. I believe that the quality of the actual work is what is paramount.” - Ferrer. 

Ferrer became interested in Urban art later in life as he began to appreciate the beauty and meaning in the medium. He is interested in the negative spaces in his stencil work, and capturing a sophistication that goes unseen in many day to day images. Ferrer has a MBA and an undergraduate degree in Engineering. 

"No Relation" Connie Noyes

"No Relation" is an exhibition of mixed media paintings by Connie Noyes currently up at the Noyes Cultural Center in Evanston through December 20th, 2012. I attended the opening on November 18th and was happy to see Connie and was intrigued by the new work. I can't say that I was surprised, as I had seen some of the work in-progress weeks ago, but I was absolutely taken with the final pieces and the narrative that went along with each. As a bit of a departure from her larger body of work, Connie digitally manipulated photographs and created layers of narratives rather than layers of materials and resin. Each piece has a title that begins with "He Said" or "She Said”, but all of them feel like the perspective of “She”. Perhaps this is because I already know that the artist is a female, or perhaps it’s because of the resounding feminist feel to the work. Everything that “He” says seems to be directed toward “her” with a tone that is void of love. “Her” words are more intro-spective and poetic. The work is painful, beautiful and relatable. The collage of textures, objects and repetitive elements create a dreamlike state that feels like a memory. The magnificent frame around each piece solidifies that memory and keeps it intact and present. I’m excited to see where this work will take Connie next. “No Relation” not only speaks to Connie’s abilities as an artist, but also her abilities as a writer and storyteller. This combination certainly makes for an impactful exhibition of work.

"Ojero: A Character of Culture"

"Ojero: A Character of Culture" is a unique exhibition by Chicago-based artist Sam Kirk that celebrates Dia de los Muertos in an artistic setting exploring the culture surrounding the event as well as cultural icons and notions. Her "Ojero", a version of a calaca, is an original character that she has been working with over the years. We have seen the character develop from the first exhibition at Elephant Room in November of 2009 to a more culturally represented and emotionally accessible version in this exhibition. Sam Kirk continues to surprise us with her new bodies of work and we are excited to be taken along on the adventure! Sam recently exhibited successfully in New York and we look forward to more cities catching on to her unique ability to connect with the viewer through her strong commentary on culture and society along with her technical ability to paint and design. Not to mention that she is set on remaining humble and demonstrates this in her strong support of her fellow artists and galleries! "Ojero: A Character of Culture" will be on exhibition through January 5th, 2013.

The artist, Sam Kirk & visitor, fellow artist & curator Stuart Hall chat it up at the opening!

Thank you to Zoils Oils, Fixed Ear & Jaime Reda for also being a part of this exhibition with their artistry! Thank you also, Cerveza Indio for providing the libations!

Live Sketch 2012!

Thank you to the sketch artists, Rob Hogan, Jennifer Cronin, Ali Cantarella, Nina Palomba, Emily Dahlquist, Lewis Taylor and HugoStyle! Thank you also to the deejays providing the great sounds, DJ Continental, DJ Taelue & DJ Johnny Fonseca! And thanks to all who showed their support!

Sneak peek at Sam Kirk's New Work..

"Over Under Through" by Sam Kirk

"Product of My Environment" runs October 1st through October 31st with an opening reception on Friday, October 5th from 6:30 to 9:00pm. We are happy to be a part of Chicago Artists Month again!

Help us move Elephant Room beyond our storefront and out into the world!

Visit our Fundraising page to see how you can participate and benefit!

Amazing artwork, limited edition prints, tees & stickers this night only!

We have been neglecting our blog, but we're back! Take a look inside the gallery now and get ready for more amazing artists next month! "Chicago Loves Me" is up through May 18th! http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150683267532441.388001.182402257440&type=1