Chris Drago, a photographer on the rise who utilizes people for his art

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MEET CHRIS DRAGO:

Located in Santa Monica, California. Chris Drago is a photographer who expresses his art using people. At first glance, Chris's Instagram is pure eye candy for anyone who enjoys portrait photography. Each subject has a unique style and look—their eyes gaze back at you and you almost feel like you're getting pulled into the photo itself.  We love Chris's work and we look forward to following his journey as a photographer. Don't forget to connect with him online to stay up to date on his upcoming projects and enjoy! 

GALLERY:

CONNECT WITH CHRIS DRAGO:

Website / Instagram / Twitter

Austin Irvan photographs the 'feminine mystique'

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MEET AUSTIN IRVAN:

Whether he's playing the guitar, taking photos, or cooking up 5-star gourmet recipes—Austin Irvin is a multi-talented creative with a new project on his hands. As a photographer, his new photo-set embraces portraits of women with dark undertones and faded color gradients. We asked Austin where his inspiration stems from and what was the creative direction behind the project and this is what he had to say;

"My inspiration originated from my admiration of the feminine mystique. I was raised by a woman and that in turn allowed me to experience life as a male with the refinement of beauty that is a woman. The dark is notions of the past and how primarily sexualized women tend to be, I wanted to build a bridge between empowerment and conviction. 

Astrologically speaking, my Scorpio influence allows intuition and adoration for the things typically unseen. The bright contrast is an influence of the Leo moon that was in place at the time—adding light and allowing multiple perspectives to be captured while holding to the true style of me. 

I want to embrace the idea of destructive criticism to instill inspiration and plants seeds of better fortune. Without the death (dark aspect) there can be no light (colored contrast) to follow and thus giving rebirth. I intended to present that shuttle idea in my photos as a call to action for people to see more than just the sexuality but the intrinsic beauty that each of us possesses."

—Austin Irvin

CONNECT WITH THE ARTIST ONLINE:

Instagram / Twitter

Rapper/entrepreneur/creative, meet the man who can do it all — @yungchilimango

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THE CREATIVE MIND BEHIND IT ALL:

@yungchilimango

@yungchilimango

Rapper/entrepreneur/creative, meet the man who can do it all. Based in sunny Rialto, California—Nickolas Gonzalez is either creating art, releasing music, or running his newly found business 'The Notorious Pin'.

  • Check out his new music (he just dropped a music video for his new song 'El Nińo').
  • We attached his drawings/art, too. If you give him a follow on social media, he often does art contests so you can always try your luck and win yourself a custom drawing. 
  • And last, we plugged his new company that creates custom pop art pins. Grab yourself one as they come and go pretty fast (limited edition). For fans of Pokemon, there might just be something right up your alley. Don't sleep!  

Twitter / Instagram

MUSIC:

ART:

THE NOTORIOUS PIN:

"The Notorious Pin started with a desire to change. A friendship combined two individuals to create the company that is known as The Notorious Pin, feeding off of the power of hard work and the willingness to succeed, here to bring ideas to reality, and enjoy the simple things that make us whole. We bring only the notorious things to life."

Website: https://thenotoriouspin.bigcartel.com/

Socials: Twitter / Instagram

Opening: Animal Style, Wednesday September 12

there there gallery
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WHAT'S HAPPENING:

Brightly colored and vividly ornate, Max Jansons, embellishes upon the canon in his latest exhibition of paintings presented by there-there gallery in East Hollywood. What seems to be a new wave of pop artistry has come about, where mastery is simply a tool the painter can flaunt. And Jansons does so well. 

THE DETAILS:

there-there gallery
Wednesday, September 12, 6pm - 9pm
On view through October 31
Tuesday through Saturday, 11am - 5pm

Performance: Reading ♋, Sunday September 16

MoCA Grand
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WHAT'S HAPPENING:

Coinciding with SS19 Fashion Month, actor Kate Berlant performs a read of lifestyle brand 69’s Spring/Summer 2019 collection at MOCA Grand. Playing with traditional modes of haute-couture collection presentation, Berlant will unveil 69’s irreverent and exaggerated designs while playing with traditional haute-couture presentation; she plays simultaneously with the turns the brand takes and the expectations of the industry.  The brand is also showing a survey of the label's work Déjà Vu at MOCA Pacific Design Center through October 28.

This event and the accompanying exhibit are free. 

THE DETAILS:

MoCA Grand
Sunday, September 16, 3pm

Screening: Cut From the Same Cloth, Friday September 7

Junior High
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WHAT'S HAPPENING:

Junior High will be screening Cut From the Same Cloth, a fashion-focused film made by Lauren Kai Quartey. This project is centered on the balance of cultural appropriation and rejection that women of color face in the fashion industry. Quarterly hopes to emphasize that we are all a cut from the same cloth and all return to the same place.

This event will include a screening of the short film, music from Princess Cyberspace and an open bar.
 

THE DETAILS:

Junior High
Friday, September 7, 8pm - 10pm
$5 at the door

Opening: Gabba Gallery Group Show, Saturday September 8

Gabba Gallery
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WHAT'S HAPPENING:

Gabba Gallery opens four solo exhibitions this weekend. Quintessentially thematic of Los Angeles, these artists weave together their odes to city life in this Westlake space, named LA's best gallery of 2017 by LA Weekly. Enjoy DJ Jonathan Williams spinning.

Mike Habs has installed his work gas(Lit), an examination of plastic zip bags and their relationship to fantasy, luxury and death. Olga Ponomarenko plays with the nature of life in Los Angeles with her piece Angelenos, where the fantastic meets the challenges of life in this urban setting. With Eleven, CANTSTOPGOODBOY subverts pop art icons a step further with his mixed media collages. And, finally, Gray - a quiet homage to Los Angeles Nicholas Bonamy crafts serene cityscapes reminding us of the universally individual experience of urban observation. 

THE DETAILS:

Gabba Gallery
Saturday, September 8, 7pm - 11pm
On view through September 29
Wednesday through Saturday, 12pm - 3pm

Opening: Visual Language, Saturday September 8

Subliminal Projects
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WHAT'S HAPPENING:

Subliminal Projects is at it again. This weekend their bicoastal group show, Visual Language opens with collaborators like Guerrilla Girls, Jenny Holzer, Ramsey Dau and Shepard Fairey himself. 

Simultaneously opening in Harlem at FACTION Art Projects, this show takes a look at the crossovers between literature, language and visuality. Bring your reading glasses and your camera.

THE DETAILS:

Subliminal Projects
Opening 7pm - 10pm September 8
RSVP here
On view through October 6
Wednesday through Saturday, 12pm - 6pm

Opening: Michael Williams, Friday September 7

David Kordansky Gallery
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WHAT'S HAPPENING:

David Kordansky Gallery presents its first solo exhibition of Los Angeles based artist, Michael Williams.  The painter interrogates the medium with disrupted compositions, digital intervention and playful content -- from still life to abstraction. 

from the press release - 
"Williams draws out an organic, flowing variant on the modernist grid and institutes in his pictures something like productive destabilization–a condition apparent throughout the works here."

THE DETAILS:

David Kordansky Gallery
Opening September 7, 6pm - 8pm
On view until October 20
Tuesday through Saturday 10am - 6pm