MEDIA ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MADDOX GALLERY PRESENTS VILLAINY, A SOLO EXHIBITION BY ANONYMOUS NEW YORK STREET ARTIST, JERKFACE

OPENING 24th JUNE 2021

Maddox Gallery is proud to present Villainy, a solo exhibition by New York based street artist, Jerkface.

Operating anonymously under a moniker that is as witty as it is elusive, the artist’s latest body of work presents onlookers with an array of characters that are at once both familiar and estranged. Channelling composition, arrangement and nostalgia, Villainy reimagines iconic cartoons from throughout the ages, conflating shapes, characters and cinematic universes in an act that has established him as the ultimate ‘cartoon villain’.

From adopting the imagery of icons such as Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, to characters from The Simpsons and The Flintstones, Jerkface takes inspiration from the vivid palette and bold design of ‘Memphis’ style, marrying the unbridled dynamism of youth with the clean and contemporary aesthetic of geometric abstraction.

Marking the artist’s first solo show in the United Kingdom, Villainy is an immersive experience like no other with the artist taking over both the interior and exterior of the gallery with his signature motif: the D’ohnut from The Simpsons.

Now signed exclusively to Maddox Gallery, Jerkface explains his decision to show for the first time in the UK, commenting “my work is universal in many regards and seems to strike a chord throughout the world, but London, like New York, has always been at the top of my list to leave my mark on. I’ve had a following in London from the beginning, so I’m very excited to be bringing my work overseas”.

Showing for three weeks at the flagship gallery of the international group, Maddox Gallery CEO, John Russo, comments “the evolution and popularity of the work by Jerkface is phenomenal. He has become one of the most sought after artists of our generation due to his commitment to iconography, and his reinvention of characters that inspire us to feel whimsical and nostalgic. By recreating pop culture icons and childhood favourites, he presents images that are both familiar and relevant to all, which has resulted in unprecedented demand”.

Villainy will be available to view from the 24th June to the 15th July at Maddox Gallery, 9 Maddox St, London, W1S 2QE and online at www.maddoxgallery.com

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For further information and interview opportunities, please contact sophie@maddoxgallery.com

ABOUT MADDOX GALLERY 

Founded in 2015, Maddox Gallery has quickly established itself as an international powerhouse within the world of contemporary and modern art. With five locations in London, Gstaad and Los Angeles showcasing some of the most respected blue-chip, established and emerging artists, our galleries are welcoming spaces in which both seasoned and aspiring collectors can immerse themselves in the art world.

Exhibiting artworks by some of the most talented emerging artists of today, including The Connor Brothers, Bradley Theodore and Joseph Klibansky, we are dedicated to supporting the work of the artists within the Maddox Gallery group. Alongside established names like RETNA and David Yarrow, to world-renowned figures such as Banksy, KAWS, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, our galleries have become central London hubs for both artists and art-enthusiasts alike.

@maddoxgallery 

ABOUT JERKFACE

Born in New York in 1982, Jerkface is a moniker for an anonymous street artist most widely recognised for his playful re-imaginings of pop culture iconography. His style can be defined by the use of character repetition and geometric abstraction, with his work merging several styles.

Creating a mix of public murals, prints and sculpture, Jerkface has garnered an international reputation among critics and collectors as a trailblazing figure in the art world. In 2016, Jerkface had his first solo exhibition at Over The Influence in Hong Kong and later exhibited his ‘Donut Pop-up’ with the same gallery in New York. He also had a solo exhibition with Taglialatella Gallery in New York in 2018. With a solo exhibition set for Maddox’s Mayfair gallery in June 2021, we can expect to see great things from this artist.

@incarceratedjerkfaces