The Corey Helford Gallery is playing host to Andrew Brandou’s new solo show entitled ‘In The Garden of Mystic which opened on Halloween; 31st October 2009′. The new show has sparked news of Brandou taking a new, aesthetic turn within his work making this show a must see of his future direction. Daily Du Jour stated ‘The pieces represent a personal and aesthetic journey – from the confines of physical existence to the psychedelic’. Have a look at the new works by Andrew Brandou below.

Images DailyDuJour

Andrew Brandou | In The Garden Of Mystic at Corey Helford Gallery is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Luke Chueh “Goya” Print is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

COOP at Corey Helford Gallery is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Adam Bryce

LA NOCHE de la FUSION Gary Baseman is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

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Sylvia Ji show is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Luke Chueh “From Light Cometh Darkness” is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Natalia Fabia

The multi-supertalented Natalia Fabia just opened her successful show Hooker DreamEscape this past weekend at Corey Helford Gallery. Known for her paintings of Hookers (aka hot chicks), Natalia is one trick away from total art stardom. At only 25, she has three solo shows under her belt, a jewelry line, a new collection of Lucite chandeliers and she produced the first Miss Hooker Beauty Pageant in 2008.  

Pool Party is an insanely hot painting. Where do you find these girls? Hahah I just know hot chicks.  Just kidding, well I do but anyway, I meet girls all over the place.  Friends of friends, at photo shoots, make up artists, hair dressers, chicks out at bars. The model in that painting is a bartender at the dive bar I always go to.  She is gorgeous and doesn’t really know it. That was the main appeal. Also I love light so when I saw a lit pool and girls, I just had to bust out my camera.  Plus it was a super fun small pool party we were having.. Hanging/partying and having fun at that pool was a great feeling, and I always like to capture a certain feeling in a painting. 

Pool Party

Have you run into any weird situations asking someone to be in painting? Yes, some people were confused when I would ask them to model for a painting..sometimes girls get really really excited – which is cute, and sometimes people are a little rude and blow me off when I ask (that rarely happens though – probably because I totally explain to them what I do). Most girls/people are really into the concept of modeling for a painting ..they find that it is a fun, different thing to do.. I love shooting new people I meet because it is fun getting to know someone that way. When I ask someone to model for me, I have a have photo shoot, we have some drinks and it is kind of an intimate experience. Especially, since I usually ask people to really be themselves, which could sound really odd.  At the end of the shoot, I always give my models jewelry that I  make. Oh yeah!.. I totally forgot, once a girl that I asked to pose for me was really rude. She made me feel really dumb - she was a bit “too cool for school”  but super cute.  Anyways, I gave her my card, which had my images on it and website – even though she was mean.. And she emailed me the next day! She totally changed her mind! She said she would absolutely love to model for me and apologized for being weird when I asked. I never wrote her back.  Hahahah bitch  j/k j/k.

One of my favorite things about your work are the “easter eggs” or hidden meanings. You seem to have a psychic connection to your subjects. What secrets might be revealed in DreamEscape? Hahha I can’t tell you because then they won’t be secrets anymore!! In my painting “Pizza Party” there are lots of references to things I love and hidden secrets.  I was also able incorporate lots of fun stuff in the painting because it was of a bedroom. Bedrooms are so personal, and they usually have many objects and fun stuff, so I could personalize the objects that were there or add my own! The model in “Pizza Party” happens to be my best friend Amy.. so there are some best friend references and inside joke stuff in there too…I don’t know if I have a psychic connection to my subjects, but I do know that sometimes I feel a strong connection to someone and must paint them and sometimes I add random things in paintings for no reason.. Often times after the painting is completed, I find out the model had a connection to that something I added to the painting with out her knowing…  For example, I painting a friend, and I added some old concert tickets from NOFX, later I found out they were her favorite band..  I add stuff to paintings that I know the model is connected to as well. That’s why I keep a big cabinet of random crap I find.. from napkins, to beer labels, backstage passes and hotel room keys..

Nap

It seems like a lot of the girls have double lives? Do you think most people lead double lives – or would like to? Yes, I definitely think most people live double lives. Some may not be as serious as others, like being a spy or being a prostitute at night and a nanny during the day – I just randomly made that one up, that would be a crappy double life.  BUT I think many people are forced to live double lives because of their jobs, obligations or interests. They may not want everyone to know they like burlesque or puppetry or something.. or it can be something that isn’t a secret, just not known by many. Sometimes it is really surprising to hear what your dentist or friend does on the weekends. Many of the women in my paintings have double lives in the sense that they have a fun party social life and a working career. They can be very serious talented and hardworking, and they can also be gorgeous, go out and have lots of fun! But I think women in general are really good at doing one thing. and then being committed to another, and they may be total opposite things.  

You mentioned in another interview that you usually get a new tattoo for each show. Do you have any planned for this one? Yes! I would like to get a hillside landscape tattoo with a pink sky, the color palette will be from one of my paintings ..I want it to be candy colored and dreamlike. If I could tattoo glitter on me I would! There is not much room left on my arms for a big piece at least except for my left forearm. I want it to be fairly large..  I haven’t fully planned it out yet, but I am very excited for it..

You have a great signature style. If you could collaborate with any designer, who would it be? And what would the “must have” piece be? Alexander McQueen!!  He is amazing!!! His clothes look like beautiful sculptures going down the runway. Everything he creates is so well put together, no matter what it is.. I get so excited when I look at his clothes – just makes me want to go paint or create something..Not only would I want to go paint women wearing Alexander McQueen clothing in many different situations, but I feel we could collaborate on making a dress or a costume… Maybe a dress that looks like a sunset! Ahh! I love him!

Peacock Dancer

Your openings are a total scene. The girls were dressed like Coquettes Gone Wild at Hook Manor and Hooker Safari had guests sporting their hottest Jane of the Jungle ensemble. What do you expect the fashion forecast to be for Hooker Dreamescape, and what will you be wearing? I am not sure actually. I always want people to get dressed up. I love themes and costumes, but this time it feels like the theme for clothing is unclear to people.  I told everyone to dress “Dream like”  NOT IN PAJAMAS, but to get creative with it. I’d love for someone to come dressed as a poofy pink cloud. That’s actually what I told Gary Baseman to wear. We always dress up for each others’ openings. I will be wearing a dress made by my friend Remy Holwick.  I really wanted to wear a 1930’s style Jean Harlow-like dress, and when I told Remy about the dress I wanted, she said she used to make costumes and could make it!  I was stoked, so we went and picked out fabric, pink and grey silk crepe.  I showed her what I wanted, and she put her spin on it and I love it!

What’s your favorite escape? Oooooh! Crap a hard one! I like climbing trees… oh and eating ice cream outdoors..soy ice cream of course..   I think I like being outdoors, since I am usually inside painting and stuff.. but I love the sky, flowers and greenery. I also love driving in the hills and up random roads and looking at nice houses, I love their lawns and the streets. It’s fun to get lost driving..

Natalia Fabia: A Modern Day Belle de Jour is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

A nice crowd was on hand to check out this amazing group show that saw participation from many outstanding talents the likes of Joshua Petker, Tokidoki, Gary Baseman, Audrey Kawasaki, D*face, Natalia Fabia, Will Barras, Word to Mother, Joe Ledbetter, Buff Monster, Andrew Brandou, Alex Pardee, and many more. There was an abundance of great art on display ranging from sculptures to paintings to mixed media pieces with a lot of cool highlights. I have a lot of images for you to check, so click inside and enjoy the pics after the jump.

“Clowns” Exhibition Recap is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Corey Helford Gallery Presents Lola “The Wondermental” is a post from: SLAMXHYPE

Joshua Petker’s “Black Sugar” Exhibition is a post from: SLAMXHYPE