To close out the hugely successful group art show and 15 year celebration of Giant Robot magazine, JANM will be open for extended hours on Thursday, January 21 to host the Giant Robot Biennale. Curated by Giant Robot co-founder and co-editor Eric Nakamura, this expanded follow-up to the 2007 exhibition Giant Robot Biennale: 50 Issues will highlight artists associated with the magazine over the past 15 years.

Featured artists include David Choe, James Jean, Souther Salazar, Theo Ellsworth, kozyndan, Stella Lai, Jack Long, Albert Reyes, Rob Sato, Jeff Soto, Deth P. Sun, Le Merde, David Horvath, and Yukinori Dehara.

Admission will be free, and many of the participating artists and key members of the Giant Robot family will be in attendance as part of this special gathering. Expect refreshments, a musical guest, The Binges and DJ Puffs, and other surprises.

Japanese American National Museum
369 East First St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Closing Reception: Thursday, January 21, 5:00-9:00 p.m.

James Jean. Rickshaw. Print.

Giant Robot has just released a print of James Jean’s Rickshaw which is featured in the ongoing GR Biennale 2 show at the Japanese American National Museum.   Limited to 50 pieces, the 28” x 44” Rickshaw print is available now for $500 directly from Giant Robot’s store.

On Saturday, James Jean dropped by the Hint Mint House in Venice for the launch of his new limited-edition prints as well as the opening of the Process exhibit which showcases the work involved in creating the artwork for the brand’s limited edition artist series tins.  As part of the Process exhibition, James Jean will be working live on his latest painting in a makeshift studio at the rear of the Hint Mint House  through Friday the 20th (tentatively: 1 to 4 PM).  This is a rare chance to watch a truly gifted artist create.

Here’s a look at today’s first session (12.14) courtesy of Hint Mint’s swanky time lapse camera and Hint-Mint co-founder Harley Cross.    If you’ve got some free time, plan to drop by the Hint Mint House to check out James in action.

Hint Mint House
1650 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291

For fifteen years, from its humble beginnings as a hand-made zine to today’s authority on Asian pop culture, Giant Robot has sought out, supported, and disseminated the work of promising, difference making artists.  Last Saturday’s (10.24.09) opening of the Giant Robot Biennale 2 at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo celebrated  the magazine’s longstanding love affair with new art. The exhibition features new work from  thirteen celebrated artists who rose to prominence with the magazine as well as a large group show of 50+ rising and established talents.

The opening drew a large crowd with queues forming at both the downstairs gallery for the group show and the upstairs gallery featuring the work of James Jean, David Choe (above), Jeff Soto, Souther Salazar, Jack Long and Stella Lai.   Both galleries are filled with inspiring pieces – it’s a cliche but there’s something here for even the most jaded art lover.

The lower gallery honors the diversity of the evolving art scene.  In addition to numerous paintings by a wide selection of artists, the group show highlights the art toy movement with a  sprawling and colorful display of hand-painted  Ledavhara figures named after their three prominent creators – David Horvath, Le Merde and Dehara.

The upper gallery offers a breathtaking look at many of today’s top talents in the new art movement that is often described with the blanket label of ‘pop surrealism’.  Among the work presented, the paintings of James Jean, Jeff Soto, and David Choe stand out as clear highlights.  While we’ve done our best to capture the work in a series of photographs, viewing the art  on your pc pales in comparison to the joy and sense of wonder that comes with experiencing it in person.

While  David Choe’s new futuristic femme fatale paintings are breathtaking, his installation of personal artifacts and art packing crates forming an urban art hideaway of sorts is a testament to his appeal – mixing eye catching and imagination provoking graffiti with a no apologies life ethos.

From actor George Takei’s ( Sulu on Star Trek)  glowing introduction of Giant Robot co-founder Eric Nakamura to a surprise musical performance by David Choe and James Jean, the opening of Giant Robot Biennale 2 proved to be a rousing and significant celebration of the publication’s first fifteen years. The milestone exhibition elevates the stature and awareness of this evolving art scene with the gold standard of an extended presence in a public museum.   Giant Robot Biennale 2 runs through January 24th, 2009. Not to be missed.

Japanese American National Museum
369 East First Street
Los Angeles California 90012
213.625.0414

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Giant Robot will celebrate 15 years of covering Asian Culture with Biennale 2 opening on October 24th, 2009 at the Japanese American National Museum. The impressive featured lineup includes David Choe, James Jean, Souther Salazar, Theo Ellsworth, kozyndan, Stella Lai, Jack Long, Albert Reyes, Jeff Soto, Deth P. Sun, Le Merde, David Horvath and Yukinori Dehara.  A second hall will feature work from 50 additional artists. If you have any interest in Pop Surrealist / New Contemporary art, this show is not to be missed.

By way of preview, check out the James Jean teaser video below created and posted by GR Co-Founder Eric Nakamura.  It shows glimpses of Jean’s new Chinnamasta piece which will be featured in the show as well as another painting which we presume will also be part of Giant Robot Biennale 2.

Japanese American National Museum
369 East First Street
Los Angeles California 90012
213.625.0414

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Swan. James Jean. Giclee Print. 25" x 44". Ed. of 50.

In case there was any question that James Jean is one of the premier pop surrealist artists,  his recent  sold-out solo show, Kindling @ Jonathan Levine, removed all doubt.  His huge multi-panel pieces are stunning.  The only downside for most collectors is the formidable price point.

So we’re excited that James has partnered with SURU to release a Swan giclee print featuring the image of the original painting from The Kindling.  The 50 hand signed and numbered prints measure 25″ x 44″ and will be available for $500 starting this Friday (3.6) from SURU, in-store and online. If you want one, you’ll have to be quick.  Hopefully, we’ll see additional Kindling show prints in the future.

SURU
7662 Melrose
Los Angeles, CA
323.655.0770

We just got an email with some news from our friend Ken Tanaka. Ken has an upcoming show with BSFA in April, but he has still been busy documenting his life and his search for his parents.

Apparently Ken wrote a comic book with the help of Paul Pope and James Jean about Jacob the Happy Rabbit.

“At the San Diego comic convention in San Diego in July of 2008, I met a very nice man named David Mack who draws a comic called Kabuki. David Mack encouraged me to try to make my own comic book about a very small rabbit who is always happy.  Mr. Mack even helped me with the art and story for the second issue, and my friend and neighbor James Jean was kind enough to draw the cover art.  In this video, James and I go to the KId Robot store on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles and asked Mr. Paul Pope to draw the cover for Jacob the Happy Rabbit book 4. Mr. Pope was there to promote his playboy bunny toy of the 1978 cover girl.    This might be the last Jacob the Happy Rabbit comic, and I am very touched by the kindness of all these artists who have helped tell the story of my friend Jacob Rabbit.”

Go get a copy of his “Jacob the Happy Rabbit: Vol.4″ out now at all fine booksellers.

Illustrator, artist and Prada collaborator James Jean opened his first solo in NY this weekend, and I was lucky enough to attend the private preview. While technically a “preview” night, the show was still packed with fans and collectors. “Kindling” is James’ first solo exhibition, and he certainly opened with a bang.

Most of the large scale paintings and drawings were already sold, and we only wished we had an opportunity to get our hands on one – but maybe another day. James was there with family and friends and was nice enough to chat with us for a minute.

His large paintings were quite dramatic, and incredibly detailed with soft color palette’s and washes mixed with more illustrative elements.

[Additional art work pics, source: Arrested Motion]

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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!

Last night was the opening for Yoshitomo Nara’s new show at Blum and Poe in Culver City. A star studded crowd was easily eclipsed by the paintings and installation from Nara and his sidekick Graf. Upon entering the show we were greeted by an enormous painting on wood panel of Nara’s youthful superheroine rocking out on a guitar.

Turning into Gallery I, the “California Orange Covered Wagon” installation greeted us with an accompanying painting titled “Lonely” – which seemed to be the running theme for the show. The “Wagon” was filled with small pieces, toys, sketches, photographs, old mail and other knick-knacks that have had some personal touch with the artist. Check out the gallery below for images from inside the wagon…

Keep reading for much more coverage…

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Nucleus presented the opening of Line Weight this past Saturday evening. The show highlighted the art of drawing and specifically line work with a selection of new drawings by Luke Chueh, Mari Inukai, James Jean (above), David Jien, Richard Kirk, Ronald Kurniawan, Moki, Christine Nguyen, Jaime Zollars, and Vania Zouravliov.

Many were likely drawn to the opening by the work of James Jean and Luke Chueh who certainly did not disappoint – each turned in two excellent pieces sure to be loved by their fans and collectors. While perhaps not a marquee name (yet), David Jien’s large body of highly-detailed graphite works proved to be quite popular with the crowd. While the subjects varied from pop (Japanese Giant Robots) to rural landscapes punctuated by lettering rendered as shapes (often in the form of what at first appear to be logs or beams), the use of fine points and lines was consistent throughout. While David is a talented painter, he’s currently focusing on graphite as his medium of choice as he wraps up his degree at Art Center.

Line Weight is a strong show featuring several excellent pieces. If you’re after form and intricate detail, it’s worth a look.

Nucleus
210 East Main Street
Alhambra, CA 91801
626.458.7477

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Face Paint. Luke Chueh. Ink on Paper. 11" x 14".

Nucleus will present Line Weight, a showcase of drawing skills, this Saturday, November 22nd [7-11 PM].  The show features drawings from an impressive group including Luke Chueh (above), Mari Inukai, James Jean, David Jien, Richard Kirk, Ronald Kurniawan, Moki, Christine Nguyen, Jaime Zollars, and Vania Zouravliov.  Come out to the opening to appreciate the grace and power of the drawn line.

Nucleus
210 East Main Street
Alhambra, CA 91801
626.458.7477

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