50 Shades of Black Opening Reception

SHEPARD FAIREY: 50 Shades of Black

Opening Reception: Wednesday, April 16 · 8-11 pm

Exhibition Dates: April 16 – May 17, 2014

Shepard Fairey releases his third installment of new album cover artwork on Wednesday, April 16th at SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS. Friend and legendary DJ Z-Trip will be joining him opening night for a special live performance. This event is free but RSVP is required to: rsvp@subliminalprojects.com.

The artwork in 50 Shades of Black is inspired by the 12-inch record cover format. Since 2006, Fairey, a DJ and music enthusiast, has continuously created artwork with the record cover template in mind. The 2011 Revolutions exhibition was the first time he presented his then full body of work (consisting of 70+ pieces) in one space at Robert Berman Gallery (Santa Monica, Calif.). The second installment was presented at Stolen Space Gallery (London, UK) in 2012 asSound & Vision. The 50 Shades of Black show is back on Fairey’s home turf of Los Angeles and the opening night event will include a performance by legendary DJ Z-Trip, who created the soundtrack to Fairey’s Sound & Vision show.

50 Shades of Black will feature 50 Hand Painted Multiples (HPMs) and a box set with screen print editions of each of the 50 new album cover designs. A record store installation with customized vintage turntables and a portion of Fairey’s own record collection will also be on view. Viewers can participate in the exhibition by selecting records from Fairey’s collection and playing them on the provided record players while visiting the gallery.

The artwork in 50 Shades of Black is representative of how music has long since been an inspiration for Fairey as “…a democratic medium that can bring joy while also delivering provocative and compelling social commentary.” His album cover art seeks to convey the infectious accessibility that music has in a visually compelling way. Fairey’s art also succeeds in striking certain social and political chords through his careful consideration of which music personalities and movements he chooses to echo within every unique design.