KRAKEN

OPENING RECEPTION

Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 7:00PM to 11:00PM

Exhibit runs September 17, 2011 through October 20, 2011

Hold Up Art

358 E. 2^nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Fantasmas is the first solo exhibition by prolific Mexican street artist Kraken. Consisting of twenty-one pieces, ranging from giclee reproductions to handmade silkscreen prints and original drawings, Fantasmas showcases the unique style and voice of this talented artist. The exhibit’s opening reception will feature a live performance by Adrian Terrazas Gonzalez (The Mars Volta) with Jazztec.

Known for his dark, gothic and somewhat disturbing images, Kraken is a highly sought after commercial graphics artist in Mexico. His work has been used to brand products from alcoholic beverages to sneakers, from apparel lines to bands. As a member of Mexico’s E3 Collective, Kraken has been involved in numerous group shows around the world. His work has appeared in an Amnesty International art book to raise money for the cause in Darfur, and he has had his work featured in an installation by the Centro Cultural España. Kraken’s work is often recognized for his use of repetitive graphics and what could be called an obsession with eyes.

“I am inspired by different things when I work; comic books, movies, but mostly emotions. I get a lot of inspiration from reading psychological case studies of serial killers,” shares Kraken, “That’s where I got the idea of deforming humanity with unnatural light and dark colors, and repetitive imagery, like eyes. The eyes represent different things in my work, but lately they represent anxiety. I have this notion that your eyes see things differently when you’re having a panic attack; your stomach aches and your palms itch. It’s like those parts of your body are filled with eyes.”

For more information about this and other exhibits,

please visit www.holdupart.com.