Thank you to all those who came to the opening reception of Brian Viveros’s “Tougher Than Leather” and Ken Flewellyn’s “SHINE” last weekend. The gallery was packed to the brim with art lovers, and Viveros had a never-ending line of fans waiting to share their love of his work with him. He was signing books, posters, and taking pictures – overjoyed by the response to the work. Flewellyn’s second solo with the gallery, “SHINE” was a great pairing to Viversos’s “Tougher Than Leather” with a collaborative piece by the artists acting as the cherry on an already great show.
Thinkspace is honored to present Tougher
Than Leather, our fifth solo exhibition with Brian M. Viveros. This
highly anticipated solo show, opening October 12, is the first comprehensive
presentation of all new work by the artist in almost four years in the Los
Angeles area, and will feature some of Viveros’ largest and most accomplished
paintings to date. The epic gallery takeover will showcase 15 new paintings,
new pastel works, charcoal on paper, collaborative works with Sandra Chevrier
and Ken Flewellyn, a new print edition, a free poster for the 1st
200 patrons to visit the opening reception, a new limited edition enamel pin
(the artist’s first), a site-specific installation, a new sculpture, and we
will be publishing a 60-page exhibition catalog in support of the show. Tougher Than Leather promises something
magical for all of his Dirty Troops, new and old.
The artist’s well-known “bad-girls” emerge stronger
than ever in Tougher Than Leather,
embodying the tenacity and fight that it has taken Viveros to get through the
past few years that have been wrought with personal struggles. Having recently
lost many prominent members of his close-knit family, the resolve it took the
artist to weather this storm pulses through his new body of work with a power
that is palpable.
Known for his phenomenally detailed and hyper-realistic
paintings, Viveros’ world is a complete universe unto itself. The “Dirtyland,”
well-known by Viveros fans and collectors, plays host to a long cast of
recurring female characters; part vixen, part superhero and all bad-ass. These
unapologetic survivors, often bloodied and bandaged, smoking and defiant, have
the battle scars to boast their warrior worth.
Viveros has pushed his execution of detail to
new extremes while continuing to expand his palette Incorporating stark tonal
contrasts between warm and cool hues, crimson reds, lush pastels and brilliant blues
and shimmering golds, to bring minute textural details to life. Tougher Than Leather also delivers Viveros’s most complex work
to date, ‘Tame The Beast’, showcasing one of his iconic Matadors captured for
the first time ever in her full glory, in the midst of battle with a raging bull.
Filled with firsts, this special showcase also includes ‘EviLAst!’, the
artist’s largest and most complex sculpture to date and serves as the
exhibition’s showstopper. This exciting new piece perfectly captures the
ferocity and beauty of the Dirtyland, incorporating signature elements from several
of the artist’s past iconic paintings.
Tougher Than
Leather is
dedicated to the fighter in all of us. All that are fighting for their lives,
fighting their inner demons and fighting the evil that is cancer. The artist’s iconic warrior women are emblematic of their
refusal to submit; tough but sensual, they embody the courage of the feminine
as empowered Victor. These heroes cannot be broken. They bleed, they
fight, they are Tougher Than Leather.
Please join us for the opening reception this
October 12 and be sure to wear your dirty best. All those attending in a
costume that celebrates one of Brian’s iconic characters will have a strong
chance of being included in the opening night recap featured within the
exhibition catalog for Tougher Than
Leather that will follow shortly after the exhibition has come to an end.
Viveros will be in attendance and the opening is free and open to all. Come
celebrate with us.
