Fable & Folklore Group Exhibition @ Copro Gallery [Santa Monica]

Beautriful Bizzare brings together 80 artists of varying disciplines for their second group show curated with the gallery

Flyer art: Jana Brike
Of the Sky and the Earth 2024
Oil on linen, 20″x 28″

Beautiful Bizarre Magazine published its first issue back in 2013, providing another outlet to promote, support, and introduce works of pop-surrealism and new contemporary art. The Australian quarterly conducts features and interviews highlighting both visual and “wearable” arts, as well as photography, filmmakers, and whatever else seems to grab their eyes in the contemporary art world. Furthermore, they’ve made point to highlight their passion for integrating online technology and community. On May 4th a new group exhibition curated by Beautiful Bizarre will open at the famed Copro Gallery in Santa Monica.

Titled Fable & Folklore, it will mark the 17th international exhibition that Beautiful Bizarre has curated, overall, but only the second in collaboration with Copro Gallery. I’m not seeing a ton of information regarding the details of the theme or parameters for contributions to the show, only the following brief description:

This exhibition brings together 80 incredible local American and international artists. Each exploring the Fable and Folklore theme through the lens of their unique lived experience and artistic styles. While at the same time bringing the pages of Beautiful Bizarre Magazine to life!

I’m going to be straight up with you folks and say that the theme feels somewhat vague and isn’t something that considerably piques my interest on its own. That said, with a partnership like Beautiful Bizarre and Copro, I already know that they’re going to bring out some heavy hitters that have experience thriving with a loose theme like this as a foundation. It also guarantees variety and plenty of different interpretations to be presented. Among the contributors are dark artists like Chet Zar and Lizz Lopez; more whimsical takes by the likes of sculptor/illustrator, Kim Slate and painter, Adriano Delfino Peca; vibrant otherworldly surrealism by Naoto Hattori; and the dysmorphic collage-work by Lola Dupre. This is going to be a good one.

The opening is free and the show will run through May 25th. As always, we recommend getting out to see it in person, if you’re able. 

Here is a full list of folks providing pieces for this event…

LIST OF CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Alex Garant, Allen Williams, Andi Soto, Angela Gram, Annie Montgomerie, Aron Wiesenfeld, Babs Webb, Brian Viveros, Calvin Ma, Camilla d’Errico, Chet Zar, Chris Guest, Crystal Morey, Dewi Plass, Dolce Paganne, Ed Binkley, Ellen Jewett, Erik Mark Sandberg, Erika Sanada, Forest Rogers, Gerlanda di Francia, Guil Zekri, Hannah Flowers, Ito Chieko, J. Henry, Jana Brike, Jasmine Becket-Griffith, Jasmine Worth, Jason Mowry, Jeff Echevarria, Jessica Dalva, Jesús Aguado, Jon Carraher, Jon Ching, Jonathan Viner, Jorge Dos Diablos, Josh Keyes, Juli About, Kelsey Beckett, Kevin Peterson, Kim Slate, Kit Mizeres, Kremena Chipilova, Kristin Kwan, Ksenia Buridanova, Lauren Marx, Lavely Miller, Lizz Lopez, Lola Dupre, Lori Nelson, Luis Toledo del Rio, Luke Hillestad, Michelle Avery Konczyk, Miho Hirano, Naoto Hattori, Noah Norrid, Olga Esther, Omar Rayyan, Orphné Achéron, Peca, Phoenix Chan, Rachael Bridge, Richard A. Williams, Richard Ahnert, Roos van der Vliet, Roxanne Sauriol Hauenherm, Ryan Heshka, Simona Candini, Sooj Mitton, Stephanie Inagaki, Stephanie Kilgast, Steven Kenny, Tamura Yoshiyasu, Tom Bagshaw, Travis Louie, Vanessa Lemen, Victor Castillo, Virginie Ropars, Xue Wang, Yousuke Kawashima

Check out a selection of preview images below, after the following event details.

WHAT:

Fable & Folklore
group exhibition curated by Beautiful Bizarre

WHEN:

Saturday, May 4th, 2024
6pm-10pm

WHERE:

Copro Gallery
Bergamot Station Arts Complex
2525 Michigan Ave , Unit T5
Santa Monica , CA 90404

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Opening is all ages
Many artists will be in attendance
Show runs until Saturday, May 25th
Gallery hours: Sat. 1 – 5pm (otherwise, by appointment)


Chet Zar
“Cyclops” (2024)
Oil on canvas
36″ x 48″

Jeff Echevarria
“Losing Neverland” (2024)
Charcoal and Graphite powder. PanPastels on Somerset Velvet
20″ x24″ | Framed: 26″x 30″

Ryan Heshka
“The Ballad of the Legend of Lady G” (2024)
colored pencil on paper
14″x 11″ /Framed 20″x 17″

Naoto Hattori
“Thoughts Creating”
Acrylic on board 5”x 3” / Framed 8”x 6”

Lizz Lopez
“La Llorona” (2024)
Oil on linen, 24 x 36″

Jonathan Viner
“The Imperial Rumpus Room”
Oil on linen 48″x 48″

Lola Dupre
“Argus” (2023)
Paper collage on panel
17″x 12″

Ito Chieko
“Jigoku Tayu” (2024)
Acrylic paint, Indian ink, Gohun, Japanese paper
mounted wood panel
24″x 20″ /Framed 28″x 24″

Travis Louie
“Umibozu Yokai”
acrylic on board
10″x 8″

Kit Mizeres
“I Saw You On the Night of Kupala” (2024)
Gouache and Watercolor on illustration board
9″ x 9″/ Framed 13″ x 13″

Erika Sanada
“Komainu” (2024)
Ceramic, cold finish,
“7 x 7″x 4.5”

Lauren Marx
“Padfoot”
Watercolor, pen & gel pen, colored pencil
on paper. 18″x 24″

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