Flow

Exhibition by Remi Rough & John 'Crash' Matos
January 16 - February 23, 2014
Opening Reception: January 16th from 6- 9PM

CRASH is a Bronx native and member of the original crews who “bombed” NYC subway cars in the 1970’s and 80’s. CRASH’s work continues to grow in popularity and push the boundaries of street art. His work is in the permanent collections of MOCA and The Brooklyn Museum of Art and has been featured in numerous publications.
 
Remi Rough, a UK native, cut his teeth creating abstract murals in South London. In 2008, Remi Rough was chosen by curators at Tate Modern to speak on the history of UK graffiti. His bold, abstract style has expanded the art community’s definition of street art, and has been featured in numerous publications. In 2010, a 30-year retrospective of CRASH’s drawings was Dorian Grey Gallery’s inaugural exhibition. In this reunion with the gallery, CRASH has collaborated with Remi Rough on a new series of exciting work representing the next stage in the evolution of graffiti and street art.
 
Press
Brooklyn Street Art
Blouin Info Gallery Guide
Graffuturism
Vandalog
Very Nearly Almost

as seen in January 2014 issue of Juxtapoz!

 

Crash & Remi Rough Collaborations

Remi Rough

There are few artists whose recent works could be described as “painting visual haikus” without the reader needing to roll their eyes, but Remi/Rough is one of them. South London born and bred, Remi has been breaking boundaries with the aid of a spray can and a paintbrush for over 26 years. Transcending the traditional and somewhat idealised vision of a graffiti writer, he is passionate and unforgiving in his creative progression.   He moved from the streets to the galleries with his debut art show in 1989 and has since gone on to exhibit in London, Paris, Perth, Tokyo, Santander, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Berlin, Ibiza and more cities dotted around the globe. However, he still keeps his finger in the street art pie, taking part in New York’s Underbelly Project in 2010. As Arrested Motion wrote: “Remi is that rare breed of artist whose work you can equally enjoy in an outdoor setting and also in a gallery/home without it feeling awkward and out of context.”   His work has also appeared in the books; Graffiti World, Abstract Graffiti and Untitled III and was featured in the award winning ‘Ghost Village Project’. Remi was invited to speak on the underground history of UK graffiti in front of a sell-out auditorium at the Tate Modern as part of its Street Art exhibition in 2008 and in 2009 he published his first book “Lost Colours and Alibis”.

Crash

Crash (b. John Matos, Bronx, New York, Oct. 11, 1961) is a graffiti artist. As early as 13, John Matos was spray painting New York City trains, the full image art as opposed to simpler tagging soon transferred to silk screened canvas. He was first noticed through his murals on subway cars and dilapidated buildings, he is now regarded as a pioneer of the Graffiti art movement. His work is said to convey iconic exhibition:"Graffiti Art Success for America" at Fashion MODA, launching the graffiti movement that has remained very active through today. By the 1980s Matos had exhibits across the United States and abroad. Galerie Yaki Kornblit was the first instrumental gallery in Amsterdam that help launch his career in Europe. In 1981 Crash, along with 10 other artists were chosen by The Public Art Fund to design animated imagery for The Spectacolor Billboard in Times Square. He was given his first gallery showing by Sidney Janis at the Sidney Janis Gallery in 1983. Chase Manhattan, N.A., as well as CITIBANK, N.A., and other collections came calling. In 1984, Crash along a "visual link between street life and established society". In 1980, Crash curated the now with Keith Haring painted mural installations for the 5/5 Figuration Libre France/USA at the Musee d'art Moderne de la Villa de Paris. In 1988 he sprayed Notes in the Wind measuring 178 x 178 centimetres to be exhibited and eventually to be owned by the Peter Stuyvesant Foundation in Zevenaar, Netherlands. In 1995, Crash was commissioned by British American Tabacco to create a commission for Lucky Strike brand cigarette, joining fellow artist Keith Haring, to create a special work for this company and their collection.   In 1996, Crash painted an Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster and gave it to the artist as a gift. Clapton went on to use the specially designed guitar through his 2001 tour and later appeared with another. In total Crash has created 5 guitars for Clapton, though only three of them have made public appearances. One of Clapton's "Crashocasters" (nicknamed by Eric's former guitar tech, Lee Dickson) auctioned for $321,100 (USD) by the name of "Crash-3" and was used extensively during the first Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2004. Soon after Fender Musical Instruments commissioned the creation of 50 such graffiti designed guitars from Crash and named the line "Crashocasters." Crash went on to also design a line of custom painted telecasters with match Fender amps. Other artists such as John Mayer have used the custom painted Crashocaster guitars.   In July 2006, the pieces titled "Aeroplane 1" (1983) and "A-U-T-O-matic",(1985), along with other paintings from their permanent collection were displayed in the Brooklyn Museum of Art in a featured exhibit titled "Graffiti." In 2009, Crash held his first exhibition of painted guitars and guitar related artwork in NYC.   In 2010, Crash held a 30 year retrospective of drawings at the Dorian Grey Gallery and also at Fairfield University's Walsh Gallery. Crash was asked by Sanrio to create a series of paintings to be shown at Art Basel, Miami Beach, FL, featuring Hello Kitty and other characters from Sanrio's catalogue. Also, in 2010, Crash was commissioned to create a special limited edition luggage for TUMI, Inc.A painting was created and used for the design, which was released world wide in 2011. Same day releases were coordinated in Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York, Germany, Paris and London. Crash is one of the New York artist featured at MOCA, The David Geffen Building, Los Angeles' "Art in the Streets", April-August 2011. In 2011, Crash held his first print survey exhibition in Southport, Ct., at Southport Galleries.