Jason Alper: Mr Pink

With less than four weeks until the opening of Jason Alper’s inaugural show, It’s All Back On, we have invited Alper to reveal one piece each week accompanied by a brief explanation of his thoughts and inspiration for the work. The countdown begins with Mr Pink.

“This is a marriage of two of my favourite icons from my misspent youth. The main thing that came to mind when I was constructing this was that both images appeal equally to both sexes. When I think just how influential Star Wars became, and still is, I couldn’t resist ‘playing’ with one of the movies’ most iconic images. Changing the colour takes away the sinister element. It’s really important that everyone can, like me, smile when they see these fond images from their past. I chose to use pink as the primary colour, it gives the piece a softer, more playful, fun, look. I adopted the bevelled corners, as Playboy did, back in the Seventies, giving this piece a retro look.”

It's All Back On opens April 17, 2010, exclusively at Guy Hepner, in West Hollywood.

Guy Hepner
300 N Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048

info@guyhepner.com
Tel: +1 310.979.0011

www.guyhepner.com
www.twitter.com/guyhepner
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Warhol, Haring & Wesselmann Set Records at Auction

Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Tom Wesselmann experienced outstanding auction results last week in New York at Sotheby’s and Christie’s. Works by Warhol, Haring and Wesselmann sold well above the initial estimates. The auctions a whole were incredibly successful, but the true highlights were black and white paintings by Warhol from late in his career.

For his late paintings, Warhol scanned Pop images from newspapers and magazines, focusing on current events and topics of personal significance. Warhol deliberately included sociopolitical commentaries in his later works, exploring major cultural issues of the mid to late 1980’s. Self Defense by Warhol, estimated between $250,000 and $350,000, sold for $506,500, twice its estimated value. Eggs by Warhol, estimated between $20,000 and $30,000, sold for $68,500.

Two Jackies by Warhol, estimated between $40,000 and $60,000, sold for $446,500, more than seven times the initial estimate. A large untitled ink and acrylic painting by Keith Haring, estimated between $20,000 and $30,000, sold for an unprecedented $220,900. Face No. 4 (Study) by Tom Wesselmann, estimated between $30,000 and $50,000, sold for $134,500, nearly triple the initial estimate. Blue-chip works by Warhol, Haring and Wesselmann continually exceed expectations at auction. Results such as these, prove that the art market is recovering quickly from the recent economic downturn.

Guy Hepner
300 N Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048

info@guyhepner.com
Tel: +1 310.979.0011

www.guyhepner.com
www.twitter.com/guyhepner
www.facebook.com/guyhepner

Upcoming Exhibition - Jason Alper

Jason Alper is poised to become one the art world's most celebrated, and talked about new artists with his avant-garde and ingenious debut, IT'S ALL BACK ON at Guy Hepner.

Alper was born and raised in England. A “cockney boy” who was exposed and inspired by an array of cultures, from the unrefined streets of East London, to the historic grandeur of Knightsbridge, his life was and is an ongoing dichotomy.

Alper, for the past decade, has been an influencer in the world of popular culture. Collaborating with Sacha Baron Cohen, he is known as a fearless costume designer with an artistic and irreverent eye, and for creating the iconic and memorable characters of Ali G, Borat and Bruno. Always one to push the envelope, Alper made the decision to use his inventiveness by expressing his talents in a new medium, but one that has always been at his core, art.

Alper will be exhibiting 20 pieces of art in varied mediums and materials combining his cutting edge vision of innovation, accessibility and of course a strong element of satire. IT'S ALL BACK ON is already creating a buzz in the industry with some of Hollywood's elite seeking to purchase pieces prior to the opening. Alper's featured pieces include controversial and out of the box works such as “What Would Jesus Wear,” “Luxury Lego” and “Mr. Pink.”

IT'S ALL BACK ON opens April 17, 2010, exclusively at Guy Hepner, in West Hollywood.

Guy Hepner
300 N Robertson Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048

info@guyhepner.com
Tel: +1 310.979.0011

www.guyhepner.com
www.twitter.com/guyhepner
www.facebook.com/guyhepner