DD friend and uber-illustrator James Jean is in NY getting ready for his solo show on Saturday and we cannot wait to see it all in person. After becoming a huge force in the comics world, Jean has gone on to do massive collaborations with companies like Prada - certainly a huge deal. For his first show at the Jonathan Levine gallery, Jean has created a collection of original large-scale mixed media paintings and drawings on canvas, linen, and paper. Kindling will be Jean’s debut solo fine art exhibition, marking a highly anticipated event for this remarkably accomplished and acclaimed artist.

Jean’s imaginative compositions feature ethereal figures; fluid in motion, and graceful in gesture. His fantasy dreamscapes capture compelling moments, often represented beyond the laws of gravity, on an undefined plane. Incorporating traditional symbolism and dynamic narratives, Kindling introduces finely rendered imagery created with Jean’s unique aesthetic, extraordinarily kinetic style and sophisticated color palette. The subjects, as the artist explains, glide through the tableaux, tracing a narrative of thwarted desires. His subtle yet suggestive themes of metamorphosis, mortality, and sexuality blend together seamlessly, bridging the gap between the real and imagined.

Opens: Saturday Jan10th

Jonathan LeVine Gallery
529 w 20th Street, 9flr
New York, NY 10011
(212) 243-3822

Check out Jean’s animation for Prada next, or discuss in our forum:

Jean uses exquisitely contoured line work to form the spatial relationships between his paint and canvas, resulting in a harmonious balance which can—at times—be experienced as if set to music. Several of his large-scale paintings are divided into multiple panels, echoing motifs from Chinese silk scroll paintings and Japanese wood block prints; two traditions which are sources of inspiration for the works in this show.

Check back this weekend for show photos and coverage!

Based in Ghent, Belgium, the trio known as CUM* have been making their “erotic street art” for three years. Their work began with a stencil of a pin-up girl and has evolved, with a great deal of influence by the massive amounts of pornography readily available on the Internet, into a sexual free for all.

The trio open their first Los Angeles solo show at KDF January the 10th and DD is certainly looking forward to attending.

“Cum’s provocative installations provide a glimpse into one of Europe’s most in-your-face contemporary art projects that examines explicit imagery–often porn-styled depictions of women–with a punk sensibility. Modified visuals and catchy slogans highlight hypocrisies evident in societies’ response to sex and sexual imagery and the way women, in particular, are portrayed in the media.”

To discuss and for more detail visit the forum:
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Not sure how many of you have been paying attention to the recent plight of LA’s Museum of Contemporary Art, but it seems like it is getting resolved.

MoCA recently called out for help as they were on the verge of having to shut its doors. A pair of parties stepped up as saviors (or potential takeovers)…Philanthropist Eli Broad offered a bailout package of nearly $30 Million, while the LACMA also offered an apparent hand.

Seems people were not taking kindly to LACMA’s offer of support as it appeared to be more of a hostile takeover, with LACMA gaining control over MoCA’s extensive collection.

In the end it looks like Eli Broad has won out, but changes are a comin’…

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Miss Bugs, one of our favorite (and most mysterious) artist tandems are bringing us a great little surprise for the holidays. While we are most likely ruining our chances of winning, we just had to let everyone know about their lottery for a set of aluminum  “The Heart Fell From The Art” screenprints.

What we won’t tell you is how to enter - you are going to have to go to MissBugs‘ website and figure it out for yourselves. The contest ends January 2nd, so you had better hurry.

DD loves the tongue-in-cheek combination’s of contemporary artists and cartoons that pervades MB’s work. We really wish we were in London to get a better look at first hand pastes. Someone send us some pics. Keep reading for more or take a look in our members forum to discuss.

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Since it seems that so much of the Western worlds pop-culture comes straight from the Far East, it is only fitting that world renowned fashion and editorial photographer Robert Maxwell’s latest project focused on the culture driving subjects of Japan.

His latest project for the New York Times is entitled The Originals, where he shoots iconic figures in various fields of art and design. This installment of The Originals gives us a look into the minds of Japanese tastemakers: Takashi Murakami, Rinko Kikuchi, Kabuyoshi Araki, Limi and Yohji Yamamoto, Toshio Hara and Verbal & Yoon of Ambush Design.

A continuation of Maxwell’s “Originals” series of icons, he certainly does justice to a handful of influential personalities of Japanese heritage.

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We have given some extensive coverage to Mr. Fairey and that Obama guy over the past few weeks, but clearly our generations Warhol and JFK continue to demand press time. As of December 29th’s issue, Time Magazine will honor President-elect Obama as the “Person of the Year” using the now iconic image created by Studio Number One honcho Shepard Fairey.

After selling out his show with the Jonathan Levine Gallery at Scope Miami, he seems to have gone right back to  work. See you on the streets of LA…

Blaine Fontana has been in hiding a bit since his move to the wilderness of the Northwest last year, but that does not mean he hasn’t been busy. Blaine recently completed a custom Scion xB that we got to check out during Art Basel and is about to move back into the real world next month. In between his move, he just released this sweet little print:

“Irregular Fauna #2″
It is a 12″ x 12″ Giclee, printed on 100% cotton rag acid free museum paper, 425 g/m² basis weight.  Hand Signed and Numbered.  Limited Edition of 50. Order one here:

Better grab one now, as I hear Mr. Fontana is starting to work on his first major solo exhibition in quite some time. DD cannot wait for that one.

Looks like David Choe is up to no good once again. Tomorrow he is releasing a new EIGHTEEN color screenprint with Burlesque Design. To top that off, Choe has drawn and painted on all 76 prints so each is completely unique. Check out the production video from Burlesque and their image gallery of the process:

If that is not enough David Choe for you, we have more. David will be signing his new “Choegal” toy at GR2 on Tuesday, December 23, from 6-8pm.

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Last weekend Giant Robot opened its annual “Post-It Show” with hundreds - and we mean hundreds - of pieces of original art on Post-It Notes.

With artwork from Gary Baseman, Brendan Monroe, Evah Fan, Buffmonster, Travis Lampe, Souther Salazar, Tim Biskup and dozens more this was a crazy opportunity to buy ridiculously small - but ridiculously affordable - pieces of original work by some of your favorite artists.

Best of all you can take your purchases right off the wall. While this means many pieces are already gone, there are still tons of great pieces to be had. DD just picked up a pair of Brendan Monroe’s, a Deth P Sun and four Evah Fan’s yesterday!

The show runs through January 14th but we wouldn’t wait if we were you.

GR2
2026 Sawtelle Blvd. LA CA
gr2.net

Images courtesy Eric Nakamura and GR2

Japanese pop artist Yoshitomo Nara opens his next solo here in Los Angeles at the expansive Blum and Poe.

Nara first came to the fore of the art world during Japan’s pop art movement in the 1990s. The subject matter of his sculptures and paintings is unusually simple.  Most work depicts seemingly innocuous children and animals drawn with hints of anime and cartoons with little or no background. But these children, who appear at first to be cute and even vulnerable, are rarely what they seem. Their wide eyes often hold looks that could be interpreted anywhere from mild irritation to accusatory expressions of disdain.

Blum and Poe was kind enough to forward some preview images to us - more specifically some images of Nara working on what looks like an interesting installation. Will he follow his A-Z show and build some houses in the gallery? We can only wait and wonder.

DD was fortunate enough to enjoy a few large pieces at Art Basel, but we certainly will not miss this weekends opening of the internationally lauded Yoshitomo Nara. After watching the documentary “Traveling with Nara” during the Japanese Film Festival we were hooked on the artists work (see below)

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