In Australia, 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace in Mermaid Beach, Queensland are hanging the last hooks in preparation for their first Group Exhibition for 2022, Instagram Live, featuring a curation of the Gallery Director’s top trending Instagram artists. The last time we saw 19Karen put on a show of this scale was in 2019 before the ‘the virus that must not be named” struck, a show that included several emerging artists spotted by Director Terri Lew and that, according to her, have since escalated in both demand and value. 

 

Every corner of the globe is represented in this exhibition that can only be described as an eclectic voyage of modern art.  Featuring over seventy artists from the U.S., Asia, Africa, and from the far reaches of Europe, each one will stage two 50cm x 50cm works offering collectors and consumers a tantalising preview into their broader body of work.

Gallery Assistant, Monique Di Russo, gives insight into the method behind the madness of the exhibition’s title and theme, “Social Media is a paradox. It teases and tempts us with beauty, immediacy, and instant gratification. The images we see through the ostensible lens of people “just like us” on Instagram promises attainable reality, yet often when we strive for that reality in our own life, it is proven just out of our reach. We wanted to curate a show that challenges this view by bringing a broad and diverse collection of the current emerging contemporary artists from around the world ‘to life’ here in the gallery for our clientele.” 

Opening night is Saturday 28th May 5pm sharp. As usual, the crew at 19karen promise an evening of sensory delight with the hottest art and coolest vibe. You can expect to be entertained by the talented James Street Preachers and hydrated by local Gold Coast brewers, Young Henry’s. Presales are now open, with several works already sold. The exhibition will feature in-house throughout the colder months in Oz, closing in mid-July. See 19karen.com.au for the full line-up and to RSVP your attendance. 

Featuring: Aaron Robert Baker  / Alber Tabanao / Alburoto / Alexander Creutz / Anastasia Korsakova / Anne Angelshaug / Anne-Sophie Tschiegg / Attilio Esposito / Bex Massey / Bisma Hussain / Blic / Blake Blanco / Brad Donovan / Cathy Tabbakh /CharlesS/ Cris Rodrigues / David Horgan / Devin Liston / Einar Ludvik Olafsson / Elly Kawaguchi / Emil Olsson / Fandi Angga Saptura  / Florine Imo /Gnch / Harsa / Jamie Linley / Jane Cuevas / Javiera Gart / Jeramiah Arneson / Jerome Masi /Jon Duff  / Jonjo Elliott / JP. Morrison Lans  / Josias Figuerido / Juan Manuel Sanabria / Kidd Murray / Kilo Blimp / Laurence Durieu /Linda Wallis / Louise De Buck / Mathias Rubinowitz / Maria Lundstrom/ Melissa Beth Floyd / Mister Papercut / Nathaniel Bolarinwa / Peter Rhian / Padure Daniel / Paula Barral / Paulson Lee / Paul Torres / Roxy Peroxyde / Rups Kiddo / Ryan Bubnis /Samson Bakare / Sean Whelan Dempsey / Sniqus / SYN / Theo Bardsley/ Timi Kakandar /  Tom Sanford / Vern Rattapoom / Vick Naresh / Yeaji Lee / Yusuff Aina Abogunde / Yoshi47 / Yuta Okuda / Yves Decamps