On the occasion of the 2023 LA Art Book Fair, Printed Matter is pleased to launch a new fundraising edition with the LA-based artist Alake Shilling.
Shilling writes: “This artwork is as much about you as it is about me. It is about self exploration through sublime storytelling—ultimate, undeniable pleasure and satisfaction. The cute pup intently gazes off into the distance with a suspicious sun looming over the land. The viewer can only wonder what approaches the two beyond the frame. The shapes are soft, the colors vibrant, and the figures are reminiscent of childhood stuffed animals. This scene invites my characters and viewers to tunnel through to a deeper understanding of the human condition. Things can seem beautiful at first glance, but life can be difficult. I want people to find joy and stimulation while being pushed to investigate what they love, what they cherish, and even what they abhor.”
Alake Shilling (b.1993) is a painter and sculptor based in Los Angeles who creates characters stemming from a childhood obsession with Lisa Frank, the aesthetic of after-school craft, and disco music. Alake Shilling attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago followed by Los Angeles City College. She has had solo presentations at Jeffrey Deitch, 356 Mission, and Maitland Foley in Los Angeles, with work in group shows at the Hammer Museum, The Rubell Family Collection, Karma International LA, and Steve Turner among others. Shilling’s latest publication, The Hippest Trip in America - By Land, Air and Sea, is published by Pacific and Jeffrey Deitch, and encompasses her recent solo show at the gallery.
