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Spotlight: Street Art Whiz Skyler Grey’s Pop-Meets-Luxury Visions Go on View in West Palm Beach
Grey cites Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat as key influences.
Grey cites Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat as key influences.
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About the Artist: Better known by his alias, “The Fresh Prince of Street Art,” Skyler Grey is regarded by many as a Pop-meets-graffiti art prodigy. At just 22 years old, Grey has been rising through the ranks of the street art scene since his teenage years with works that reimagine celebrities, cartoon characters, and iconic luxury symbols in vibrant recontextualizations. Now the artist is debuting a new series of works in “Contemporary Pop Classics,” his new solo show at Avant Gallery West Palm Beach. The exhibition coincides with the gallery’s participation in the 2022 Palm Beach Modern and Contemporary Art Fair, where his works will also be exhibited.
Why We Like It: Including works on canvas and resin sculpture, the exhibition immerses viewers in Grey’s dizzyingly energetic world of pop culture and art-historical references. Grey cites Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose portrait appears in the show, but one can also see sparks of Murakami and KAWS; the Color Field works of Mark Rothko; and the pages of DC comic books. Grey’s resin and fiberglass sculptures, meanwhile, bring this signature vision into three dimensions. Here, Grey’s cast of protagonists ranges from cartoon icons like Mickey Mouse, Pinocchio, and Fat Albert, to celebrities like Amy Winehouse. Grey conflates these images with high-end luxury logos such as ones belonging Hermes to Chanel.
According to the Artist: “I’m excited to work in new [media] and bring my paintings to life in 3D. I’ll be debuting a series of six one-of-one, full-color Mickey Largerfeld sculptures made out of resin and fiberglass standing three feet tall. In addition, I have brought to life a four-foot-tall Chanel pearl-inspired can sculpture that bears the image of Olive Oyl depicted as Coco Chanel. The Palm Beach natives and visitors will be in for a ride of visual pleasure as they visit Avant Gallery, as well as the booth at the Palm Beach Art Fair. At the same time, my work will also be included as part of an exhibition at the Norton Museum and up for auction at Sotheby‘s, so I’m super thankful for all this synchronicity happening at once.”
See images of “Skyler Grey: Contemporary Pop Classics” below.