This Saturday, Copro Gallery unveils two very different artists within its walls. In one half of the gallery, Owen Smith brings his hard-hitting representation of American social realism through an easily accessible lens. His solo show, ‘Wayward’, explores life in the US from the post-war era to present day, delving into the themes of human interaction, isolation, and social constraint. Given recent events in the America, ‘Wayward’ may feel even closer to home, no matter the era of his paintings shown.
In the other half of the gallery, Argentinian artist Peca displays her vibrantly surreal paintings. This series, ‘Moonlight Dreams’, follows Peca’s path to bring the unconscious within her to consciousness. Through the series, she unpicks and puts back together her experiences to the world around her, exploring the dualistic nature of life, the world, and even the universe.
While these two solo exhibitions differ greatly in style, both artists invite us to reflect on our lives today.
Owen Smith: ‘Wayward’ and Peca: ‘Moonlight Dreams’
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 9, 2022 | 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Exhibition Dates: July 9 – July 30, 2022
Copro Gallery
Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave, #T5, Santa Monica, CA 90404, United States
Phone: 310 829 2156
For more information, email Gallery Director, Gary Pressman at coprogallery@live.com or call 310-829-2156.
Owen Smith: ‘Wayward’
Owen Smith is an American Post-war & Contemporary artist born in 1964. His award-winning illustrations have appeared in Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Time, Esquire, and the New York Times. He has created 20 covers for The New Yorker and recently illustrated a third book for children. His illustrations for the recording artist Aimee Mann helped win a Grammy for Best Recording Package. Smith has also designed mosaic murals for a New York City Subway Station and murals and relief sculpture panels for a Hospital in San Francisco. For the past 9 years, Owen has been the Chair of the Illustration Program at California College of the Arts.
“Wayward” is Owen’s first solo exhibition at Copro Gallery. Recently, Owen illustrated a special edition limited release of John Steinbeck’s famous novel ”Grapes of Wrath’ for Eaton Press, and all the paintings and drawings in the book will be included in ‘Wayward’! Additionally, visitors will enjoy new, original paintings, plus the original illustration for ‘The New Yorker’ COVID-19 edition.
Owen Smith’s art is influenced by the American Social Realist tradition, Ashcan School painters, and Film Noir. He explores the darker side of society using archetypal figures, dramatic lighting, and exaggerated proportions and poses. Often, Owen depicts laborers, criminals, politicians, and the working class caught in moments of tension. These images can be seen as realistic, surreal, even melodramatic.
Peca: “Moonlight Dreams”
Peca is an Argentinian artist based in Barcelona. Celebrating a multifaceted approach, she is a painter, illustrator and stop motion movie maker. After graduating with a degree in Visual Arts at the University of Fine Arts of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Peca’s work has exhibited and sold all over the world.
The immense floating rock moves your inner tide and makes your dreams strange. Its power and brilliance shake the spirit. Cosmic energy loses its established form through generations, turns into chaos and flies like a flock of migratory birds in search of empathy, wolves howl, cats scratch elemental particles in the confines of the universe, the feathers – in enveloping game – softly spread their garden scent and find their synchronicity. Everything becomes dual.
‘Moonlight Dreams’ is Peca’s latest, majestic body of work, featuring several large to small diptychs. Each diptych has a companion piece, making this show even more fascinating to explore. When asked about her artistic practice, Peca shares: “Art is the best way to connect myself with the universe. It is my moment of introspection, the way of not losing my head; it is meditation, decoding of cosmic signals, maybe. It is a response to the aggressiveness and falsity of the material world that is presented as the only alternative; the way of being outside the rules.
“All of us have the power of transformation, we are creators of worlds. I love to paint animals awake, connected with the universal movement. Usually, they are beings that ignore our rules and have the mission to challenge the viewer to see beyond the limits of our understanding; they push us into the unknown, trying to break the foundations of our belief system putting our world upside down”.
About the Gallery //
The gallery, located at Bergamot Arts, is divided into two exhibition spaces, sometimes featuring a single artist but often two or three. Large group exhibitions are also featured often in conjunction with outside curators. In following with its original mission, Copro participates in International Art Fairs and curates outside exhibits to help promote their artists.
Focusing on museum quality installations showcasing emerging artists, Copro Gallery also exhibits many established and master painters. Placing works in private collections throughout the world, Copro strives to assist collectors new and experienced in building the most exciting collections possible.
Owen Smith Social Media Accounts
Peca Social Media Accounts
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
