In a new show arriving Nov. 5, Corey Helford Gallery in downtown Los Angeles hosts “Alessandra Maria & Lauren Marx.” The gallery draws a fascinating tie between the works of the two artists: “In the process of creating her own world, [Maria] and [Marx] each share in their use of powerful and traditional iconography to tell a story.” The show runs through Dec. 10.
St. Louis artist Lauren Marx looks to the flora and fauna of nature and mythology to craft her illustrations. The works in this show, in particular, features nature entangled in itself, moving inside and outside of the bodies of varying organisms. Marx’s vivid style, in its absorbing linework and bold color, creates an engrossing scene at every corner. Marx seems to be fixated on decay in her new works, despite the vibrancy of each piece.
Maria’s mixed-media works carry Renaissance influences, yet glow with illuminating flourishes throughout her pieces. And in Maria’s meticulous layering, centuries-old styles are given new life as figures interact with creatures and plants in the worlds they inhabit. Maria is currently based in New York City. The artist mixes coffee-stained paper, graphite and carbon pencil, black ink, and gold leaf to create these pieces.
British-Iranian artist Nikoo Bafti crafts vibrant scenes that represent Mother Nature, pulling inspiration from varying mythologies. The artist's background includes studies in illustration, with time spent animation development at Disney Channels in London before she embarked on a career in personal and freelance work.
Illustrator Chrigel Farner has a knack for chaos. His enormous scenes move between writhing armies of characters or solitary giants. The Berlin artist's practice encompasses editorial illustration, comics, and gallery art. Farner’s style recalls both the wild characters of classical animation and the detailed world-building of Moebius.