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I have a small piece in this group show in New York. check the flyer for details >

As I prepare for my departure this Sunday 22nd to Europe, I have been working steadily on some new pieces for a “hands” themed group show coming up in Melbourne in October. All new collage works in similar vein to the last series I did for my Open Studio. All from Chrome Burner can labels.

The next time I will post will be in not so sunny London. Fun times ahead. Stay tuned…

Fecal Face reviewed my recent Open Studio exhibition on their website. Check it out

I am in a group show coming up in New York for the Launch of King Brown magazine issue 8.

Finally the long awaited King Brown Magazine is Launching their 8th Issue:——Co-curated by Morning Breath Studio (NY), issue 8 features fine work and studio visits of skate-related artists including:Mike Giant (brown bag), Grotesk (cover), Andy Jenkins, Jay Howell, Dave Kinsey, Kevin Lyons, Greg Lamarche, Tommy Guerrero, Cycle, Pontus Alv, Razauno, Stefan Marx, Steve Gourlay, Zach Malfa-Kowalski and Ben Horton.

For more info > http://www.kingbrownmag.com/

Last week hundreds of people came down to Backwoods Gallery to see off one of Melbourne’s most prolific street artists, James Reka. Before moving to Europe next month, he put on a pop up show that tied together all of the loose ends of his decade long career. Featuring a final fresh body of exhibited work alongside selected works from 2004 to 2006, fans came down in hordes to pay their final respects to one of Melbourne’s finest.

The new body of work was exclusively painted on rusted found objects such as spray cans, corrugated sheet metal and antique gold-mining pans that were found walking the train lines and salvaged from abandoned warehouses. Referencing his beginnings as a graffiti artist, the walls were strewn with scrunched butchers paper to create texture and act as an urban framework for the works. It was a process-driven concept, with Reka organically using every aspect of the spray cans to create artworks, from turning the paper labels into collages to painting the shell of the can itself.

In addition to this new body of work, Reka pulled a large collection of old works out of the vault from some of his original shows in the early to mid 2000s. Many of these canvases haven’t been seen for six or seven years and produced a huge, esteeming response from the crowd. Displaying works that have been painted over a decade apart, the audience could see Reka’s transformation from being known as having the strongest graffiti inspired line-work in Australia to his now renowned free-form canvases. Whether it is one of his iconic characters from the early 2000s or an incredibly intricate new work, Reka’s style is revered within the community and has continues to influence younger artists. There is no doubt it is commendable to already have such a strong retrospective of work and such a huge turn out of admirers in what is guaranteed to be a long and illustrious career.

Australia is losing one of their best to the bright lights and bigger walls of Europe, but there is no doubt that Reka’s legacy will continue both on the laneway and gallery walls for years to come. Gone, but not forgotten.- Text by Georgia Frances King.

Some images courtesy of Everguide & Kompound blogs.

A selection of works from the exhibition:

A friendly reminder that my Open Studio is Tomorrow night at Backwoods Gallery. 

ONE NIGHT ONLY. 

I have also selected key works from 2004-2006 that are also on display before all my work gets put into storage. Last chance to see these gems. Here are a few pics of my new works on found objects that will be available for purchase tomorrow night. Hope to see you all there before I leave to Europe in July.

“After a ten year career defacing the streets and gallery walls of Melbourne, Reka is packing up, moving overseas and having one last hurrah.

He will be holding an open studio for one night only, displaying a new body of work exclusively painted on found objects. Using spray cans and rusted metal found from walking the train lines and abandoned factories, Reka has organically used each aspect of his natural element to create a process-driven concept, turning everything from the cans’ paper labels to the folds of oxidised sheet metal into self-contained artworks.

On June 20th, Reka is opening up his studio for a behind the scenes look at his new paintings and mixed media works, plus throwing in some paintings from the past decade for good measure. It’ll be an exhibition and leaving party all rolled into one, so come down and join Reka for a one final beer.”

Facebook Event 

Some collage work I have been playing around with recently. The labels are a bi-product of me crushing the Burner cans flat to paint faces on them. I decided to use the discarded Chrome Burner-can labels to make new pieces of work. From crushing the chrome cans, often with paint still in it, the chrome paint has drenched some fo the label.

Beautiful result. Really enjoying this process. Waste nothing.

Here’s a preview of some of these works.

I have been working on a new series of found objects for something special coming up soon.

Will drop more info on this shortly.

Hi Fructose has recently published an update and recap if my recent “Primary Suspects” exhibition and a  bunch of new walls I have completed this year. check it out here.