Mark Penxa – 1975

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One of my favorites, Mark Penxa will be showing some new paintings this September at 1975, a very cool art space in Rochester, NY that’s been hosting a number of sick shows over the past few years.  You may recognize Mark’s work from the excellent Jazz 101 and Blues 101 series of graphics he did for Stereo recently. The opening is Saturday September 12, from 7-10 pm. so get there if you can.

About the show:

“We are thrilled to welcome back Mark Penxa to 1975 Gallery for a solo exhibition of new works. Mark will be joining us for the opening reception.

Taking its name from tempting, vacuous “click bait” headlines; “You Won’t Believe What Happens Next…” exhibits a brand new series of paintings from Detroit-based artist Mark Penxa.

Highlighted in this exhibition are 10 wooden sliding boxes which Penxa calls “Personality Profiles”. On the outside the boxes appear to be an abstract portrait, but each box slides open to reveal a deeper, interior painting. “I have alway been enamored with how easily you can hide behind a profile . . . Visually, social media has always been a ‘sliding door’ idea with me,” says Penxa.

Fascinated, disturbed, and frustrated by early internet imagery and mis-information; the exhibition also includes new works on paper, over thrift shop paintings and hand made canvas compiled over the last year.

Currently the resident artist for Stereo Skateboards; Penxa previously held a position of ‘satellite artist’ at Girl Skateboards for over ten years and art directed the highly popular “Mountain Lab” series for DC Shoe Co.

This is Penxa’s first solo exhibition in the United States. In 2011, a career retrospective entitled “Leap into the future” was held at MEL Space gallery in Moscow, Russia.

By Joe Castro

Joe Castro is a collage artist, musician, oil painter and graphic designer currently lurking somewhere between Philadelphia and Delaware. For more info, visit mightyjoecastro.com