VIVUS II

31 Mar-5 May 2022

Dualitas, 2022. Credit: Maddox Gallery

Overview

Following the success of Lefty Out There’s first European exhibition with Maddox in 2019, Maddox Gallery is pleased to announce the continuation of the urban artist’s ‘Vivus’ series, with his latest show ‘Vivus II’, opening 31st March 2022.

Born in Illinois in 1991, Lefty is a multidisciplinary artist who emerged on the Chicago scene in the late 2000s with his signature mark-making motif. Uniquely distinct yet easily adaptable, the artist creates intuitive repeated shapes known as polymorphs that strike as both the result of a spontaneous process and also as part of a larger, intricate cosmic design. His work has engulfed spaces around the world from America to Europe, reflecting his ethos, ‘cover everything’.

Created during a time of global anxiety, Lefty’s latest body of work marks a distinctive shift from his earlier oeuvre, while still embracing the bold and intricate designs that first launched him to recognition. Whereas ‘Vivus’ celebrated the excitement of simply being alive, ‘Vivus II’ is a visual abstract representation of the world we live in today, achieving a jarring intensity that reflects universal tensions.

There is an inherent duality to his work both in concept and design. The show is separated into two distinct bodies of work; one, a kaleidoscopic melee of glowing colour, the other, a powerful meditation on monochromatic art. Across both series, Lefty combines his iconic polymorph forms with geometric shapes to create an alternative universe that is as liberating as it is overwhelming, using Optical Art as both a means to visualise and escape from the destabilisation of contemporary society, post-pandemic. The immersive nature of the exhibition forces the viewer to step out of their comfort zone and disconnect from their current reality, while the work itself mirrors the intensity of everyday life.

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