REVIEW: Greg Gossel's "Make Believe" Art Show

Photo by Bonnie Burton.
Art by Greg Gossel
"Make Believe" solo show
Opening Reception
The Shooting Gallery, San Francisco
June 14, 2008

When I first saw Minneapolis-based artist Greg Gossel's mixed media paintings that mashup vintage comics, pulp-like cover girls and graffiti, I got fairly giddy. I'm a big fan of collage and mixed-media art, and especially when it looks like a big tribute to Teen Confessions Silver Age comics -- which I've been collecting for over a decade. His work reminds me of Roy Lichtenstein meets Bansky -- which means of course that I love it!

But unless my next book makes the bestsellers' list or I manage to get a screenplay optioned, I won't be seeing his awesome work on my walls at home. So I guess I'll just have settle for admiring my photos of his art.

Be sure to check out his "Make Believe" show -- which runs from now until July 7 -- at San Francisco's art gallery The Shooting Gallery.

Check out the full set of photos from his opening reception here:
"Make Believe" Art Show Photos (Flickr)
See more art on Greg Gossel's site here.

REVIEW: Sylvia Ji art show

Photo by Bonnie Burton.
Art by Sylvia Ji
Opening Reception
White Walls Gallery, San Francisco
June 14, 2008

The latest solo art show by Sylvia Ji shows off her talent for painting breathtakingly gorgeous women, as well as paying tribute to Mexican art in particular with El Día de los Muertos. Her primary muse for this show seems to be Calaveras Ladies -- beautiful women adorning skull face paint. They are truly works of art, almost akin to Olivia De Berardinis's pinups, only darker and more mysteriously seductive.

I had a great time looking at her work up close for a change -- since I've only just seen it online or in magazines. Plus I ran into and met other artists/tattoo celebs -- Henry Lewis, Norm and one of my favorite artists -- Shawn Barber.

Check out all my photos of the reception here:
Sylvia Ji Art Show

Learn more about Sylvia Ji and her art on her site here.

Here's a great video interview with Sylvia about her work from her 2007 White Walls show: