West Chelsea Contemporary will present the return of the gallery’s popular street art-centric exhibit, "Street Kings: Blek Le Rat + Risk.” The show highlights two graffiti masters, each who have catalyzed the movement within their respective international homebase – Paris and Los Angeles.
In celebration of this epic exhibit, Risk, known as the King of L.A. street art, will present an artist talk, featuring complimentary beverages, mingling, and more. This exhibit and event present yet another rare opportunity for the public to interact with an internationally renowned pioneer in the contemporary art world.
French artist Blek le Rat, born Xavier Prou, visited the New York scene, where he was inspired by the WildStyle graffiti subculture and the impulsive, alleyway works of Richard Hambleton - the godfather of street art. Returning to Europe in 1979, Blek drew on his degree in printmaking and his newfound appreciation for urban art, integrating the ethos of graffiti with the practicality and refinement of stencil based design. Blek became the founder and father of the stencil art movement, pioneering the medium and paving the way for Banksy, who accredits the artist as his biggest inspiration.
Continents apart and almost two decades later, Risk, born Kelly Graval and also known by the monikers of Risky and RiskRock, moved to L.A. in 1982 at 15 years old. By 1989 he became one of the first LA-based taggers to adorn New York subway cars when he traveled to the epicenter of graffiti. From a very early age, RISK has had a deep connection to the L.A. music scene and has done original work, commissions, and designs for some of the biggest names in the music business.
Following the opening reception, the exhibit will be on display until August 27.
West Chelsea Contemporary will present the return of the gallery’s popular street art-centric exhibit, "Street Kings: Blek Le Rat + Risk.” The show highlights two graffiti masters, each who have catalyzed the movement within their respective international homebase – Paris and Los Angeles.
In celebration of this epic exhibit, Risk, known as the King of L.A. street art, will present an artist talk, featuring complimentary beverages, mingling, and more. This exhibit and event present yet another rare opportunity for the public to interact with an internationally renowned pioneer in the contemporary art world.
French artist Blek le Rat, born Xavier Prou, visited the New York scene, where he was inspired by the WildStyle graffiti subculture and the impulsive, alleyway works of Richard Hambleton - the godfather of street art. Returning to Europe in 1979, Blek drew on his degree in printmaking and his newfound appreciation for urban art, integrating the ethos of graffiti with the practicality and refinement of stencil based design. Blek became the founder and father of the stencil art movement, pioneering the medium and paving the way for Banksy, who accredits the artist as his biggest inspiration.
Continents apart and almost two decades later, Risk, born Kelly Graval and also known by the monikers of Risky and RiskRock, moved to L.A. in 1982 at 15 years old. By 1989 he became one of the first LA-based taggers to adorn New York subway cars when he traveled to the epicenter of graffiti. From a very early age, RISK has had a deep connection to the L.A. music scene and has done original work, commissions, and designs for some of the biggest names in the music business.
Following the opening reception, the exhibit will be on display until August 27.
West Chelsea Contemporary will present the return of the gallery’s popular street art-centric exhibit, "Street Kings: Blek Le Rat + Risk.” The show highlights two graffiti masters, each who have catalyzed the movement within their respective international homebase – Paris and Los Angeles.
In celebration of this epic exhibit, Risk, known as the King of L.A. street art, will present an artist talk, featuring complimentary beverages, mingling, and more. This exhibit and event present yet another rare opportunity for the public to interact with an internationally renowned pioneer in the contemporary art world.
French artist Blek le Rat, born Xavier Prou, visited the New York scene, where he was inspired by the WildStyle graffiti subculture and the impulsive, alleyway works of Richard Hambleton - the godfather of street art. Returning to Europe in 1979, Blek drew on his degree in printmaking and his newfound appreciation for urban art, integrating the ethos of graffiti with the practicality and refinement of stencil based design. Blek became the founder and father of the stencil art movement, pioneering the medium and paving the way for Banksy, who accredits the artist as his biggest inspiration.
Continents apart and almost two decades later, Risk, born Kelly Graval and also known by the monikers of Risky and RiskRock, moved to L.A. in 1982 at 15 years old. By 1989 he became one of the first LA-based taggers to adorn New York subway cars when he traveled to the epicenter of graffiti. From a very early age, RISK has had a deep connection to the L.A. music scene and has done original work, commissions, and designs for some of the biggest names in the music business.
Following the opening reception, the exhibit will be on display until August 27.
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