We are proud to announce a solo show with  the international known Streetartist SAM3 in may.

The artwork of SAM3 is ironical, poetic and inspiring. SAM3 is well known for his large scale black and white paintings that remind of shilouttes or shadows.

His paintings focus through the reduction of colours and clear shapes and theirintense presence is like a magnet to the observer.

His works are dominated by figurative elements, which are in the state of metamorphosis. His protagonists are growing from the wall and stick stick to their surrounding by large roots that  develop out of them.

SAM3 is born in spain, lives in Madrid, but his artworks can be seen around the world. Besides his paintings he produces experimental stop motion shortmovies.

Exhibition: 07.05. - 04.06.
Vernissage: 07.05. 19-23h

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Starting on October 30th the well-known international graffiti artist Peeta exhibits his work at Pretty Portal Düsseldorf and is therefore seen in a German gallery for the first time.

The Italien artist Peeta (alias Manuel Di Rita) made his first graffiti in a small town somewhere between Venice and Padua in 1993. Today, sixteen years later, Peeta's work is an inherent part in the international graffiti scene. Here, at Pretty Portal, Peeta can be seen in a German gallery for the first time.

This artists style is extraordinary: Beginning with organic conceptions in his early work, Peeta soon develops his very own typically typographic style, that is characterized by its impressive visual depth and unique 3D-composition. For some years now Peeta is, next to his wall pieces and murals, also working on canvas and sculptures. In the artists opinion those media don't exclude, they rather inspire each other. Working on a sculpture gives him new ideas for wall pieces, while on the other hand those graffiti inspire him to build the same furious forms in a sculptural way. The wall graffiti are dynamic and outstanding - the works on canvas show the same energy but with more privacy. Peeta shows his skills and experience on all areas.

Not only Italy, but also the Mecca for graffiti, New York City, influenced Peeta's work: In 2003 he became part of the FX crew of New York City and three years later he shall be a RWK crew member. At home in Padua he already was part of the EAD crew. Together with other famous international street artists (for example ecb or Loomit, both already held an exhibition at Pretty Portal) he's always looking for new projects all over the world.

Next to his activity on graffiti and street art, Manuel Di Rita is working as an industrial and product designer. That's another important impulse for his art, which is best expressed in his sculptures. Here polyurethane, wood and cellulose acetate meets leather, paper and cardboard. This combination of design and graffiti is one of the characteristics of Peeta's art, that causes a permanent further development.


Exhibition:
30.10. - 27.11
Vernissage: 30.10. /19h - 23h


Pretty Portal
Brunnenstr. 12
40223 Düsseldorf

click to see all pictures

Last one before summer break: Pretty Portal, the Streetart and Urban Art Gallery in Düsseldorf, presents “4” - the first group exhibition of the young artists Suki Bamboo, Aro, Magic and Biserama.

Ladies first: SUKI BAMBOO (alias Bianca Angela Litscher) started in 1992 developing her own typical style: a mixture of hand drawing and digital design. Her works show both, a romantic but also striking side. Influenced by many different impressions like urban streetart, modern design, belle epoque or art nouveau, Suki Bamboo is always focused on formal aesthetics and color harmony. A free mind, creativity, a focus on the essential and the ability to transfer inner pictures - that are the characteristics of Suki Bamboo and her work.

ARO (alias Christian Schupp), a graphic artist from Koblenz, doesn't really care about conventions, traditions or rules, but rather looks for inspiration everywhere. Using his Computer, ARO brings those inspirations, the everyday experiences, dreams and fantasies to life. At the end of that artistically process, energetic, colorful and exciting works will again inspire the viewers mind.

MAGIC (alias Oliver Räke), a graffiti writer and graphic designer, is mainly influenced by urban culture, architecture and typography. Starting with his early works in the 80th, Oliver Räke is one of the first graffiti artists of Germany.

The fourth member of this group is BISERAMA (alias Alexander Becherer). The young artist keeps an eye on the details and small things in life. His provoking and expressive works show a strong will, fighting spirit, honesty and liberty. For quite some time now BISERAMA is working on special handmade designer toys, known as “The Teeth Project”. The prototype was reduced only on lips and teeth - the mouth with its diverse qualities and possibilities.

4

A group show with

Suki Bamboo, Aro, Magic und Biserama.

Exhibition:12.6. - 17.7.Vernissage: 12.06. 19h – 23h

with DJ Penelope

Starting at the  8th of may Pretty Portal shows an exhibition from ecb - Hendrik Beikirch which is called: "A Summer"

ecb - Hendrik Beikirch
"A Summer"
Exhibition: 8.5. - 5.6.2009
Vernissage: 8.5. ab 19h
mit DJ Lee Bass

Graffiti as aesthetics between art and act of willful damage, sign language for the speed and mobility of modern urban Indians - these characterisations of wall art from the spray can are widely known. With his work on canvas, Hendrik “ecb“ Beikirch now shows that rather than following the pathway from the underground into the respectability of art galleries, graffiti is an art of space and its representation.

He does not transfer the sign language itself from walls onto canvas, but rather captures the topographical scenarios in which this language takes place. Stairways, bridges and arcades are the topics of his canvasses, with a wide sky spanning above as a symbol of anarchy and the open space for which the art of graffiti was originally designed. In these imaginary visions, anonymity and secrecy metamorphose to near photographic perfection. A deliberately minimised colour palette and a blending and running of colours evoke the melancholy of a bygone era, reminiscent of images from the early age of photography. Here, graffiti has been transformed into an art of ephemeral beauty.

Stefan Strumbels exhibition at Pretty Portal Gallery was sold out two hours after the gates were opened. Last Weekend the artist from Offenburg was the highlight of the art fair Berliner Liste.

From today two handpulled screenprints from Stefan Strumbel on heavy archival paper are available at our online shop.

Stefan Strumbel: Who killed Bambi (Auflage 150)

Stefan Strumbel: Kuckucksuhr (Auflage 50)

Heimat loves you and Düsseldorf loves  Heimat. This is the conclusion after the opening show of Stefan Strumbels exhibition: What the fuck is Heimat?.

Pictures from the opening show

and from the exhibition.

The exhibition can be seen until the  21st of november. ( Monday to friday from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. )

Stefan Strumbel is one of the  young shooting stars in the international art market.
He is playing with clichés and stereotypes, which he accelerates into absurdism. »Who killed Bambi?« oder »What the fuck is  Heimat?« are characteristic titles of his work.
Karl Lagerfeld is thrilled, and portayed himself with his Strumbel cuckoo clock for the magazine “Stern”

On the 18th and 20th of october Stefan Strumbel will show his artwork in Munich and Berlin, togeter with Dare, Toast and Blek le Rat.
Blek le Rat is worldwide called »Godfather of Stencil«. The 56 year old French is like  Banksy one of the most outstanding representatives of Stencilgrafiti.

On the 24th of October Stefan Strumbel is opening his solo show at pretty portal.

Stefan Strumbel
"What the fuck is heimat"
Exhibition  24.10. - 21.11. (monday - friday, 3 -7 p.m.)
Vernissage 24.10. 7- 11 p.m.
DJ Orson (Version)