"Faces of Life" El Mac at FIFTY24SF Gallery
Faces of Life is a solo exhibition by El Mac, a graffiti mural artist and painter from Phoenix/Los Angeles.
Since beginning to paint graffiti in the mid-90s as “The Mac,” his murals have become recognized landmarks in cities across the globe. These pieces, often photorealistic depictions of everyday people and ethereal women, utilize distinctive brushwork and shading patterns that focus on the human face and form. His artwork combines classic art themes and techniques with inspiration from Mexican and Chicano culture of the Southwest, pin-up art, and religious imagery. Mac perceives his own work as “the result of a life devoted to art.”
Faces of Life is a series of large to medium size canvases done with spray paint, featuring faces of different girls Mac knows, using mostly black & white or gray tones with just a little bit of color added. "They're super challenging, because I'm trying to paint them in a loose, fluid, somewhat impressionistic manner, but still retain a little photorealism.” These paintings are a culmination and natural evolution of a couple of decades of drawing, painting and studying faces. “The 'ripple' or 'vibration' effect I'm using evolved naturally over years of painting graffiti in the dark with fat caps, and without the help of any kind of art school.” El Mac’s Faces of Life is inspired by another artist known for his beautiful depictions of women, Czech Art Nouveau master, Alphonse Mucha.
El Mac has been commissioned to produce murals around the world, he has exhibited in museums, and his work has graced the cover of numerous publications. He has shown his work all over the United States and in Belgium, France, Mexico, Denmark, Canada, Spain, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, and Italy.
Faces of Life features new paintings on display at FIFTY24SF Gallery from August 6 – August 27, 2009.
http://www.elmac.net/
http://mac-arte.blogspot.com
******UPDATE******
Last night El Mac's Faces of Life show opened at FIFTY24SF to crowds of eager fans waiting to get a glimpse of his paintings. The show featured large to medium size burlap canvases done with spray paint, featuring faces of different girls Mac knows, using mostly black & white or gray tones with just a little bit of color added. The show turned out beautifully - each of the pieces a testament to El Mac's talent, detail and meticulous can control.
To coincide with the show, El Mac in conjunction with Paperworks Lab is releasing a print, Song of Songs. It’s a 7 color hand pulled serigraph that is in a very limited edition of 50 pieces. Printed on black Stonehenge 310 gsm 100% cotton archival deckled edge paper sized at a massive 30x40 inches. FIFTY24SF Gallery has sold out of its prints but if you act quickly, you may still be able to get some online through Paperworks Lab.
Song of Songs:
All Photos: Michael Ojeda
