TAZ + DUARDO + RISK

Beverly Hills—coming to you for the first time is Edwards Lowell Gallery—a name you may recognize as a fur store has now converted to the art market, and is choosing to showcase collaborative works by artist Jim “TAZ” Evans and printer Richard Duardo, as well as neon works by graffiti legend Kelly “RISK” Graval for their debut. Not only are they opting for art rather than fur, they’ve taken the good karma one step further and teamed up with Harold and Carole Pump Foundation to raise funds for the awareness, treatment, and cure for cancer.   The show opens to the public on August 8, from 7-10pm in Beverly Hills.

Taz, Duardo, and RISK are all iconic in their own right in the contemporary art world, but especially dear to this golden state of ours.  Jim “TAZ” Evans is often referred to as the “rock poster god,” having worked with names such as Nirvana, The Ramones, Wu-Tang Clan, Bob Dylan, and countless others.  He has also designed album covers, film posters, and currently is owner and creative director of Division 13 Design Group with clients such as Sony, DreamWorks, Paramount, and many more. Works being shown for the opening include collaborations between TAZ and LA superstar printer Richard Duardo, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 62.  Duardo is well-known throughout North America as being a master printer, artist, and pivotal figure of Chicano art community.  Together, TAZ and Duardo created extremely limited prints of some of Hollywood’s icons, including James Dean, Marilyn, Elvis, Brando, and Bogart.  The prints are vibrant in color, and dazzle in their silk-screened layers, originally layered between 1984 and 1988.

Out of the collection, 5 of the canvases are also hand embellished by graffiti legend Kelly “RISK” Graval.  Known for being the first to paint the “heavens” (highway overpasses) and the first to ever paint a train car, RISK is another Los Angeles legend to join the debut at Edwards Lowell Gallery.  In addition to the 5 silk screen canvases, RISK will have some of his recent neon works available, which involve nods to his graffiti roots, his brightly colored field studies, and modern motifs.

The show is free and opens to the public on Thursday, August 8th, from 7-10pm and will be on view through September 7th.  Edwards Lowell Gallery is located at 8712 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211, 1.5 blocks east of Robertson blvd.  Street parking is available.  20% of all sales will go to benefit the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation.