From the Streets of Iran @ Crewest *OPENS 9/10/09*

Crewest Gallery presents
From the Streets of Iran,
Works on paper by urban artists in Iran
Curated by Shervin Shahbazi. This exhibit is the first of its kind in the U.S.
Featuring graffiti-based works on paper by ICY, SOT, FRZ, MAD, and CK1.

These artists have exhibited their work in Europe and Australia, and this is their United States debut. The artists draw inspiration from Iran’s rich heritage of calligraphy, visual arts, revolution and the state in which they live, as well as their exposure to graffiti and urban art in the West.

Their work encompasses a broad range of subject matter—from urbanism and political resistance to scenes of everyday people and the innocence of youth. Each of the artists practices their own aesthetic. In some works, detailed hand styles overlap with spray can imagery; in others, stencil work and careful attention to texture affect a stylized photorealism.

However the individual styles may differ, the works as a group resonate with hope and a determination to realize the promise of a better future from the streets of Iran. SHOW OPENS TODAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009