Spring Spotlight: Hirst, Slonem, & Mr. Brainwash

Arton Contemporary presents 'Spring Spotlight,' a show of contemporary classics by Damien Hirst, Mr. Brainwash, and Hunt Slonem. The work by these three infamous artists addresses similar themes of life and nature through the use of repetition and color.

Damien Hirst’s formulaic ‘Spot’ paintings, Kaleidoscopic butterflies and diamond encrusted skulls are all manifestations of his iconic oeuvre, what Hirst has called, “Universal Triggers;” The symbols that bind humanity and beautifully translate the significance of life, death, and everything in between. Hirst has maintained an impressive edge throughout his career with over 80 solo exhibitions and 260 group shows. This show features his some of his most notable iconography including spots, skulls, and cherry blossoms.

Exploring similar subjects of life from a different approach is American artist Hunt Slonem, known for his Neo-expressionist oil paintings of butterflies, birds, and bunnies. Similar to Hirst, Slonem uses repetition and color as forms of creative meditation. Slonem's highly expressive and gestural strokes paired with his choice of color and ephemeral approach to nature brings a spirituality to his paintings. Today his work can be found in collections at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art among many others.

Mr. Brainwash is French-born Los Angeles based street artist. His work rose to fame through his collaboration with Banksy in 2010. His style is a collision of street art and pop art, including iconography from other artists like Banksy and Basquiat and cultural references such as Disney and Campbell's soup. He recently opened his own museum 'The Mr. Brainwash Art Museum' in 2022 in Los Angeles which includes paintings, sculptures, and multimedia displays by Mr. Brainwash and other contemporary artists.

The work in this show by Hirst, Slonem, and Brainwash concentrates energy in the front of the picture plane, bringing the pieces to life. The treatment of subject brings a refreshing levity to limitless topics, while bright color connects the works and creates narrative of life, growth, and expression, perfect for the upcoming season.