OKEY OFOMATA
On The Way
03/10/23 - 04/02/23
Opening Reception:
Friday March 10th 6-8pm
IRL Gallery
15 Monroe St
New York, NY 10002
In On The Way, Okey Ofomata’s works show flash moments of hectic scenes, often from varying perspectives, brimming with energy as they convey a sense of suspense. Thick and heavy brushstrokes add to the hurriedness of the images and suggest the urge to go from one destination to the next. At times, Ofomata’s subjects seem to freeze in motion, like taken by a need to reflect on their actions and on their own self.
Okey Ofomata (b. 1997) is a Los Angeles-based contemporary artist known for his energetic and allegorical works. He is currently studying Fine Art and Animation at Mt. San Antonio College in Los Angeles, CA. In the past, Ofomata has shown works at Aziz Gallery (LA), Prizm Art Fair (Miami), Joyce Gordon Gallery (Oakland). He has also collaborated with various musicians, such as MIKE and Young Morpheus.
DANIEL SILVA FLANDEZ
Soft Und Hart
03/10/23 - 04/02/23
Opening Reception:
Friday March 10th 6-8pm
IRL Gallery
15 Monroe St
New York, NY 10002
Daniel Silva Flandez' Soft Und Hart features 6 new works by the artist in which the main protagonists are cute-looking animals equipped with AR-15 firearms. The characters seem to be made of bubbles, suggesting childhood as the softest time in a person's life. At times, the bubbles morph into beads, suggesting how children in the US are forced to hardened due to failed gun laws.
As in previous works, Silva Flandez mainly uses black and white, due to his color blindness. In this series, he gradually approaches working with color, adding bright red touches. These works are titled after the animal protagonists: Helga, Norbert, Sally, Misha, Loris.. The artist deliberately chooses to personify his characters and give them names that could be those of children.
Daniel Silva Flandez (b. 1994) lives and works in Vienna, Austria. Since 2018 he studies at the Academy of fine arts, in the class of Daniel Richter. In the past, Silva Flandez’s work has been shown at Alba Gallery (2022), Parallel Vienna (2019, 2020, 2021), Helmuts Club (2020).
