If you’re wandering in the South this Spring looking for an amazing art experience look no further than the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. I had heard of it and still was not prepared for how interesting and frankly breathtaking the museum itself is. As we pulled into park…I wondered “is this a museum?” Surrounded by lovely walking trails and a sculpture park, the museum is nestled almost underground, so your journey begins with an elevator ride down. The collection sprawls through a series of interconnected buildings hovering over a lake. By all means explore, take a walk on one of the gorgeous trails, and have a delicious meal in the cafe while you’re here.

But whatever you do — don’t miss the “KAWS: FAMILY” exhibit. It offers a compelling and expansive look into the world of contemporary artist KAWS. This U.S. premiere builds upon its initial showing at the Art Gallery of Ontario, presenting an enriched collection that spans the artist’s career.

A Journey Through KAWS’ Artistic Evolution

The exhibition is anchored by the 2021 sculpture FAMILY, depicting four of KAWS’ signature characters in a familial arrangement. This piece sets the thematic tone for the show, exploring complex and heartfelt human emotions through the lens of pop culture-inspired figures . Visitors are guided through a series of “families” of works, showcasing KAWS’ evolution from his early graffiti and altered advertisements to his more recent large-scale sculptures and installations .​

Curated by Alejo Benedetti, the exhibition underscores Crystal Bridges’ commitment to bringing significant contemporary art to the region. The museum’s unique architecture and natural surroundings enhance the visitor experience, creating a narrative journey that reflects KAWS’ own storytelling through art .​

“KAWS: FAMILY” is on view through July 28, 2025.

 

The post ART TREKS: Crystal Bridges Museum of Art – Kaws: Family Exhibit appeared first on Art Business News.

5Art Gallery, located in Los Angeles, California, will be showing unique pieces from well-known street artists at this year’s Art San Diego. “Our exhibiting artworks are very diverse. They differ in materials, sizes, themes and colors.” Check out a few of their pieces below!

KAWS | 4ft KAWS FOUR FT DISSECTED BLACK, 2009 (50×23.6x14in), limited Ed 100, Signed and dated

JISBAR is a french artist who’s fun, culturally diverse, paintings are offered in different sizes making them a perfect addition to any home for a pop of color!

Banksy’s Pulp Fiction will be exhibited with 5Art Gallery. This hand-signed, limited-edition piece comes with a certificate of authenticity.

5Art Gallery will be showing five unique pieces from Shepard Fairey, who made them for his 30th career anniversary. They will also be showcasing rare collections from Banksy and KAWS. Art San Diego visitors will have a chance to see some very outstanding french street artists’ works, some of which are very difficult to find in the United States.

Attending Art San Diego this year? Stop by Booth 413 to see 5Art Gallery and these incredible pieces in person!

The post Art San Diego 2022 Spotlight Gallery: 5Art Gallery appeared first on Art Business News.

“End to End, E2E is a Graffiti & Street Art term that refers to a huge graffiti piece that covers a wall from one end to the other. On a subway train, it refers to a piece that covers the entire train, end to end.” Says Jeremiah Heller, art curator at End to End Gallery.

“This lexicon has been the inspiration behind our brand and our monthly exhibits in our Downtown Hollywood Showroom in Conjunction with the Downtown Hollywood Art Walk where we have curated an End to End space featuring a curated collection of Modern & Urban Contemporary Art from my personal collection that truly embodies the meaning of the term and creates a unique viewing experience. Placing works from our personal collection allows the works to be viewed publicly and allows us to educate and share our passion for the works within the collection.”

End to End Gallery will be located at Booth #104 at Artexpo New York 2022. Check out some of the pieces that will be featured below!

A Curated Selection of Originals, Limited Editions and Sculptures from the leading Modern Contemporary Artists in the world including Kaws, Jordy Kerwick, David Shirgley, Ryan Travis Christian, Derek Alyward, Javier Calleja, Baldur Heglason, Michal Kagen, Roby Dwi Antono, Giorgiko, Erik Parker, Joakim Ojanen, Cesar Piette, Kai, And Yoshitomo Nara.

A Curated Selection of the Leading Museum Inducted Black Artists from our personal collection of Originals, Limited Editions and Sculptures. Work by Hebru Brantley, Kayla Mahaffey, Max Samsing, Dovie Golden, Marcus Brutus, Marcus Leslie Singleton, Jammie Holmes, and James Kerry Marshall. 

Brian Calvin’s highly stylized portraits feature flattened planes of saturated color and evoke elements of Surrealism, Pop art, and Cubism. The artist often paints his predominantly female subjects in extreme close-up. A single face can comprise disparate skin tones and different colored eyes. It can be difficult to decipher whether Calvin’s compositions feature one face or two, and his group scenes often merge characters’ faces and limbs. Beneath Calvin’s bold, sunny hues lie serious conceptual concerns and an engagement with abstract principles. The artist received his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1994. He has since exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Milan, and Tokyo, among other cities. His work belongs in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Portland Museum of Art, and the DePaul Art Museum. Calvin has also painted landscapes and interiors inspired by his California roots.

Originals, Editions, and Sculptures will be on Display

Artexpo New York will be held at Pier 36 April 7-10, 2022. Tickets are available here.

The post End to End Gallery – Artexpo New York Spotlight Artist Recipient appeared first on Art Business News.

The popularity of graffiti has even resulted in some street artists being recognized by art institutions, as well as finding success showcasing their work in galleries and in more unconventional locations. Pieces by present-day street art mavens such as KAWS and Banksy have become increasingly in demand, and their success has inspired new artists to consider taking this path. It’s clear to see that graffiti and street art are here to stay and have found their place in today’s culture. Here’s a look at the rise of street art and the future of this vibrant art form.

Street Art Takes Root in NYC

The 80s were an iconic time for unconventional and subversive art in New York City, and creativity was showcased everywhere, from canvases to walls, public spaces and even human bodies. During this decade, tattoo artists Thom De Vita, Brooklyn Blackie, and Tony D’Annessa operated underground tattoo parlors in the city, even after officials banned tattooing. Customers would emerge from their shops sporting various intricate patterns on their body and it inspired other tattoo artists to open secret shops of their own.

Meanwhile, the NYC graffiti scene was also in full bloom, as artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring started using public places all over the city to showcase their works. Eventually, the art world began to take notice of their genius. Basquiat’s works were showcased at Annina Nosei’s gallery in Soho, while Haring made sure that the public could easily get their hands on his art by selling shirts and other items featuring his work. Some of haring’s art can be found today at New York’s MOMA and Whitney Museums, while Basquiat’s paintings can be viewed at the Soho Contemporary Art Gallery. And, of course, their works are frequently on display in museum collections around the world.

Street Art as Collectibles 

Today, pieces made by famous street artists have become status symbols among collectors. Banksy’s works are known to fetch millions and are highly sought after by the elite. Just remember when Banksy’s “Girl and Balloon” image made waves and in 2018 when it self-destructed after just being sold for over $1.2 million at Sotheby’s. Meanwhile, Brian Donnelly, known in the art world as KAWS, started out as a graffiti artist in NYC and now has ongoing licensing collaborations with Uniqlo, Dior Homme, and Bounty Hunter. With the latter, Donnelly launched a line of toys that are highly collectible and finding homes with celebrities such as RM and J-Hope of BTS, Pharrell Williams, and Justin Bieber among many.

In today’s art culture, urban art is a new genre developing influenced by elements and inspirations of both graffiti and street art into works more suitable for the home and other interiors. As the new genre of street art becomes more accessible to everyone, it is expected that more street artists will be making their work available for public consumption through collaborations with galleries, museums, and brands that will showcase their work. Though there might be debates about whether street and urban art will have the same impact on a $50 t-shirt as it does on a wall in NYC, it’s evident that it’s an effective way to introduce art to a younger audience as it challenges gatekeeping within the art world. Whether it’s on a brick wall in Brooklyn or displayed at the best museums in the world, street art and it’s new sick-kick urban art, will live on and will remain an important part of today’s art scene.

About the Author: Karoline Gore is a freelance writer, art enthusiast and self-confessed tattoo junkie. When she’s not writing about her favorite tattoo designs, she loves exploring the countryside in her native Maine with her dogs Ralph and Bella.  

The post From the Streets to the Galleries: A Look at the Rise of Street Art appeared first on Art Business News.