Yoko Ono at Tate Modern
“Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind” exhibition at Tate Modern, is on until September 1st and is an expansive journey through Yoko Ono’s artistic legacy, blending music, installations, photography, and interactive performance art. This landmark showcase, the UK’s most extensive collection of Ono’s work, spans her groundbreaking contributions from the early 1950s to today, highlighting her role as a pioneer in avant-garde art circles worldwide.
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Koons at Skarstedt
From 1st March to 25th May 2024, Skarstedt’s London Gallery presents a solo exhibition featuring the work of American artist Jeff Koons. The show includes five mural-sized paintings crafted between 2001 and 2013 drawn from Koons’ series: Easyfun-Ethereal, Antiquity, and Popeye.
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Tomas Saraceno at Tanya Bonakdar
At Tanya Bonakdar Gallery in Los Angeles, “Live(s) on Air” is on from February 24 to May 4, 2024, featuring new works by Tomás Saraceno. This exhibit explores the theme of eco-social interdependence with a collection that includes sculpture, works on paper, and film. It aims to engage viewers in thinking about the impact of humans on the environment and paths toward coexistence on Earth.
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Always Hope, Banksy, via Banksy Official Website
Details of Banksy’s life remain to be completely confirmed – though exhaustive efforts have been undertaken by various sources to nail down this street artist’s identity. What is certain is that Banksy was born and raised in England, has worked with various crews of grafitti artists since he was a teen, and currently maintains, paradoxically, a high-status anonymity in both the art world and the public’s imagination.
Flower, pictured here with construction workers, Banksy, via Banksy Official Website
In an effort to dodge street police, Banksy adopted innovative stencils to create his now-signature works. They allowed for much faster application on public surfaces that have included the walls of zoos, hospitals, tunnels, and otherwise unremarkable locales. However in recent years, he has also traveled around the world, gaining international attention with tags in various countries, including the controversial West Bank territory.
Have a Nice Day, political image using iconic smiley face, Banksy, via Banksy Official Website
His work incorporates satire, images of animals, small children, British references of Royal Guards and Queen Victoria, anti-war messages, riffs on classic paintings, etc. Sneaking into famous museums like the Metropolitan in New York and the Louvre in Paris to personally hang up his works is one well-known Banksy stunt.
Maid, Banksy, with his wall-exposing illusion, via Datscool
Banksy has, however, had gallery showings of his work, and the artist has taken on commercial projects, like the design of Blur’s album cover. Celebrities such as Christina Aguilera and Angelina Jolie have purchased his pieces for sums of up to approximately $500,000, while other works consistently sell at high prices through venues, including Sotheby’s. His art has accumulated so much value that owners of walls with his graffiti have actually auctioned them off to the highest bidder.
Image of rat found in Austria, Banksy, via Graffiti
Monkey image with the artist’s signature in the corner, Banksy, via Daily Mail
Regardless of Banksy’s much-contested value as an artist, his influence on the boom of street art in both the fine arts market and contemporary culture cannot be denied. The artist displays his drawings and “indoor” works on his website, Banksy.co.uk, and also offers published books of his art.
Queen Victoria canvas, Banksy, purchased by Christina Aguilera, via Luxist
Pissing Guard, in England, Banksy via Current
