Seen: Buff Monster – Heavy Metal Ice Cream Smile

LA artist Buff Monster unveiled his newest collection of work for the opening of Heavy Metal Ice Cream Smile @ Corey Helford Gallery on Saturday (9.5).  Fans and collectors familiar with Buff Monster’s work will notice that the twenty-one new pieces represent a stylistic evolution featuring an emphasis on geometric patterns, trippy landscapes, and a revised, more colorful palette.  The title itself also clues us into the new show which merges the happy, cheerful world featured in the majority of his past work with the darker, demon-filled word of his last few shows.

For the opening, Buff Monster and Corey Helford unveiled a wild installation piece – a towering custom ice cream balloon with a cherry on top, of course.  By the large crowd that filtered into the gallery to enjoy the new art and the free ice cream from the yellow truck, one would have never guessed this was in fact a long holiday weekend.

As you check out the photos of  the work, note the visual narrative of light and darkness featuring Buff Monster’s ‘Skull Camo’ ooze that flows out of his satanic creatures and literally clouds the skies of  candy-colored euphoric landscapes.  Also notable, is the increased use of lettering and slogans – both in the Kanji seen in recent exhibitions as well as English.

Heavy Metal Ice Cream Smile marks a definite progression for Buff Monster and is his best show to date.

Corey Helford Gallery
8522 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310.287.2340