Mark Ryden
(Mixed media on paper, 13.5” x 10.75”)
Even outside of its varieties and many uses, the mushroom is a complicated little fungus. Depicted by the artists of “Hi-Fructose Presents: The Art of the Mushroom,” coming to The Compound Gallery this month, it’s a prism of perspectives: fantastical or recreational, sexual or familial. The gallery describes this show as “an exploration into artists’ interpretations of the friendly, deadly, tasty, hallucinogenic, phallic, alien, and legendary mushroom.” Here are just a few of the pieces featured in the show, with a roster of 50-plus artists.
Richard Bowen
(Acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 18″)
Attaboy
(Acrylic on layers of handout wood, 20″ x 19″ x 2 1/2″)
Johnny KMNDZ Rodriguez
(Acrylic on wood, 24″ x 30″)
Travis Lampe
(Acrylic on wood panel, 20″ x 20”)
This show runs Oct. 20-Dec. 9. See more of its works below.
Horrible Adorables
(Mixed-media, including wool felt, foam, fiberfill, wood, glass eyes, wallpaper, 24.5″ x 18.5″ x 7″)
Christophe Gilland
(Ink on paper, 16.5″ x 12″)
KRK Ryden
(Acrylic, watercolor, Black 2.0 on wood panel, 25.5” x 32”)
Brandi Milne
(Acrylic on panel, 12” x 12”)
John Casey
(Pencil and colored pencil on paper, 14″ x 11″)
Erika Sanada
(Ceramic, cold finish, 12.5″ x 17″ x 5”)
Christina Mrozik
(Gouache on paper, 12.75″ x 17″)
Pop Surrealist 
The works of Italian artist 
There are many great artists whose primary medium include pencil and paper, but the artist's sketch is not always intended as a finished work. A sketch may serve a number of purposes: it might record something that the artist sees, it might develop an idea for later use or it might be used as a quick way of graphically demonstrating an image. For those who refer to drawing to work out their ideas, a sketch becomes a rare piece seldom shared with their audience. As such, there is a special air of mystery that is associated with drawings. We've featured artists' drawings in our 
Charlie Immer