FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

{CTS} creative thriftshop is excited to present the second collection from LA artist Upendo, Tha Black Krayon entitled “Crude Beautiful”. The artist in this series returns to the basics in his exploration of nonsensical language. This is a continuation on the series “Graphic Poetry” (summer 2004). Delving deeper into his soul-searching journey of deconstruction, Upendo grapples with the concept of yin and yang, the good and the bad, and being born simply to die. “Crude Beautiful” is derivative of this search, embodying the beautiful struggle.

The media and technique utilized by Upendo are themselves described as “crude”. Unlike “Graphic Poetry”, which generally had a clean, chic esthetic, this current body of work seems dirty and gritty and almost raw. However, within the context of yin and yang the canvas simultaneously feels fresh and natural. It is in this paradox that the concept “beautiful” is able to function. The limited color scheme remaining solely black and white re-enforces the birthplace of text. It mimics newspapers, published books, pen and paper; it has a reassuring tangibility to its readers.

The artist’s interpretation of the series lends itself to book making. He sees “Crude Beautiful” as a title to a chapter in the book “Graphic Poetry”. The canvases, drawings, and collages are the individual pages in that visual book. The play on typography and color is the substance of its literature. The story continues...

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about the artist: Upendo Tha Black Krayon has been blessed with the gift of creation, through the facets of art and design. Taking root in the graffiti art culture, Upendo transitioned his drawing skills and love of the household aisles at the supermarket into graphic design. Building a design foundation in the skateboarding industry, alongside his fine art exhibitions he has sustained himself by working in the commercial fashion industries. Designing graphics and creating imagery for some of the top players in the game Upendo is now working to build his own empire of art, design and music.

about the curator: Lynn del Sol Born and raised in New York, Lynn del Sol currently lives and works in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In late 2003 she left the commercial art world and set to create a vehicle for expletory artists to exhibit their works to the public by founding {CTS} creative thriftshop, a young art company that represents international emerging and under-represented artists.

about the gallery: Sleek and modern, but not off-puttingly so, this is one of the most interesting-looking bars on Williamsburg’s scruffy northern border thanks to its muraled exterior and a partnership with an arts nonprofit that keeps the wall décor changing every six months from glossily graffiti-ed to classically papered: Exposed brick, candlelight, and boxy yet comfortable furniture remain the only constants. Top-quality DJs spin Wednesday through Saturday, and on Thursdays big-name turntablists like A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the X-Ecutioners take over.