Mexican American artist Favio Martínez, a.k.a. Curiot, is based in Mexico city and has become one of the most recognized street artists of his generation. His unique style with references to traditional Mexican folk art, is defined by fantastical figures of pre-Hispanic characters that come alive in colorful fusions of bodies and unlikely creatures. These figures called “curiotis” arise from his inspirations found in ancient cultures and reflections over our consumption and pollution of the environment. Curiot’s work has been shown in galleries such as La Crema, La Mano Gráfica, Baseveintiuno, David Alfaro Siqueiros, MACAZ Museum, Museo Arte Moderno, MUJAM , Centro Cultural Border, Thinkspace Gallery of L.A. and the FFDG of San Francisco. He has taken on multiple mural projects in Mexico, USA and Europe along with other renown artists from around the globe.

Hi latest works will be exhibited in Mexico City at Fifty24SF‘s sister gallery, Fifty24MX, titled ‘The creation of NIRAK’TUH’. For more information visit: Fifty24MX

“The creation of Nirak´tuh is the most recent exhibit of artist Favio Martínez “Curiot” (Michoacan, México) presenting a series inspired in the element of fire as a component of the duality of Creation – Destruction. In this new series, Curiot creates a collection of characters lead by Nirak’tuh, the sun god, who announces a new cycle in the history of the planet. The bodies of these deities are conformed by intricate structures that unveil pyramids, animals, sea flora, stone effigies, embroidery, lava, cactuses, sacred geometry and several ornamental elements that complement each other with knitt and other material compositions. This is how the creation of Nirak´tuh presents a group of archetypical creatures that reveal in their nature infinite universes that can be discovered layer by layer through the eyes of the spectator.” – Fifty24MX

Here’s a sneak peek of his show:

 

For fans of Curiot, check out our Upper Playground x Curiot collaboration tee available here.

Upper Playground is proud to announce a new line of Premium Tees that will be released in collaboration with various artists throughout this year.

Our first release is the Descanso da Alma T-shirt by Brazilian artist, Herbert Baglione.  These Premium line of Tshirts , made with 4.8 oz. interlock 100% Pima cotton, uses one of the most innovative technologies to deliver high quality, all over print products to our fans.  The superiority of Pima Cotton is recognized by its extreme softness and durability from its composition of long staple fibers that sets it apart from other cottons and is generally agreed upon as the best cotton in the world.

In addition to its excellent fabric, these t-shirts are printed on with special reactive dye inks that give these t-shirts a superior level of colorfastness compared to traditionally screen printed t-shirts.  This means these line of Premium Pima T-shirts are made to last with long durability in color vibrance and the graphics will never wash out.

4.8 oz. interlock 100% pima cotton.

Lay flat collar.

Double needle construction.

Check out this and other products by Herbert Baglione here.

 

Artist David Choe is working on releasing limited edition books that are related to his last major installation and show in Mexico City  titled ‘Snowman, Monkey, BBQ’.  Each book will come with a print and an etched wooden box. Some of these boxes will be hand embellished and even hand painted by the artist. No announcement of when these books will be available have been made yet but they are planned to be released within this year.

 

 

Upper Playground artist NYCHOS (currently exhibiting his solo show, ‘Street Anatomy’  at Fifty24SF Gallery, San Francisco), finished a new mural called “Horsepower”  in Sao Paulo, Brazil with the support of Instagraphite and Montana Cans:

Artist: Nychos
Mural: Horsepower
June, 2014
Location: Pinheiros, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Photograph by: Instagraphite
Big thanks to: Montana Cans

For more info on this mural visit:
www.rabbiteyemovement.at
www.facebook.com/Deinonychos
www.instagram.com/nychos

Interested in checking out his show in San Francisco? Street Anatomy will be on going until June 15th, 2014.  The gallery is located at 218 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94117-3504.  Contact us at GALLERY@FIFTY24SF.COM for any questions or appointments for a visit. 

This year marks Upper Playground‘s 15th year anniversary and we will continue our celebration by giving away signed ‘The Walrus’ Prints by NYCHOS to our most talented fans!

Starting in June, we will hold a contest each month to give away one 18x24inches signed, ‘The Walrus’ Giclée Print to the most creative and original Walrus interpretation shared with us via Instagram and Facebook.

To participate:

1. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook!
2. Upload your original work of a UP walrus on your Instagram and tag #UPwalrus15 + @upperplayground. Or send us your UP walrus on our Facebook page and tag us Upper Playground + #UPwalrus15
3. Don’t forget to share with friends!

At the end of each month, we will choose a winner and send out our gift. Good luck to all participants!