David Choe‘s highly anticipated book, Snowman Monkey BBQ is now available here online at www.upperplayground.com:

“I spent the last decade making a book that compiles all of my most luscious, magnificent watercolors. If you are looking for street art or graffiti bullshit, you came to the wrong place. Not content with just detailed, masterful watercolors, I included — in true sociopath fashion — career and love life suicide text messages, the most direct emails you will ever read, as well as photos of the most beautiful women I’ve ever photographed. In doing so, I am presenting the complete package of a schizophrenic, perverted artistic genius mixed with [c]ravings of a lunatic.

You will laugh. You will cry. You will get hard. You will get wet. You will be conflicted. You will be inspired.” – D.Choe

266 page 10.5″ x 14.5″ hardcover book

Upper Playground just released our Classic ‘Eyes Only‘ T-shirt in Black and Metallic Gold.  Check out this and other Eyes Only options in multiple color ways available here.

New V-neck Eyes Only T-shirts also available in white or black:

World renown muralist, ARYZ, who opened ‘Style is the Limit’ at Fifty24SF Gallery with us last year, is  currently attending the Vilnius Street Art Festival in Lithuania.  His latest large scale mural is in progress and photographer Henrik Haven sends us work in progress photos:

 

 

Our long time friend and contributing artist Usugrow, with his masterful calligraphy works, is renown for his hand style and collaborations around the world.  After several years of hiatus and reorganizing himself in Tokyo,  he is finally making his way to San Francisco for a solo show and book release this month at Fifty24SF Gallery.

Here’s a sneak peek of his Book due for an exclusive release later this month at Upper Playground:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upper Playground friend, David Ellis opens SPIRIT ANIMAL, a joint show with Kevin Earl Taylor at Subliminal Projects September 13th, 2014.  Both artists, render animals and surreal figures and landscapes with nature and its spirit as a compelling subject matter.

“Ellis draws from his surroundings, using what he knows and what is familiar and then incorporating what he feels, what he sees, and what he hears. He is heavily influenced by music and is swept up in the dynamics and constantly changing beat of life. Growing up in rural North Carolina and currently living in Woodstock, NY, Ellis intertwines the landscape and its animals with his own internal ebb and flow. The loudness of a free and natural rhythm and the looseness of a fluid stream of consciousness is depicted through gestural and graphic renditions of smoke clouds or undulating waves weaving their way in an out of wooded scenery and the mouths of predators.” – via Subliminal Projects

Spirit Animal will be on view at SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS through October 11^th.

SPIRIT ANIMAL
DAVID ELLIS, KEVIN EARL TAYLOR

EXHIBITION DATES:
September 13 – October 11, 2014

RECEPTION DATES:
Saturday, September 13 · 8-11 pm