rockin and clockin, shockin and rockin, 2012

Another abstracted microphone sculpture. Will be in my solo exhibition "Microphone Check" at Hionas Gallery in NYC. Opening reception is June 8th, 6-9pm.

http://www.hionasgallery.com/

Limited Edition Print In Progress

The Arm, Brooklyn, New York

These are images of my limited edition print being printed at a printshop called the Arm in Brooklyn. It's a photopolymer print done in the style of an old school flyer. It's for my solo exhibition "Microphone Check" at Hionas Gallery opening June 8th. I'm still proofing the edition, but it'll probably be an edition of 35 or 40 priced at $100. They will be available at the opening so rsvp if your interested in purchasing a print!

Studio Work In Progress

on and on and on on and on, 2012

Two views of the finished sculpture. I originally painted it grey/black but decided on just black with a blue/grey mirror under the base. Finishing another piece consisting of two microphone stands that sit on a low pedestal. That one will be black fading to blue then black again. All this work is for my solo exhibition "Microphone Check" at Hionas Gallery opening June 8th.

Notes April 2012

Studio notes:

"I believe that it's necessary to rethink an approach to art in terms of a communality that constitutes neither high nor low, but instead resides at the edge of both".

New Painting

Hard Edge Painting (#126), 2012

Ok, another one done. The buffed out areas are almost symmetrical in this painting. Had to raise the gray on the right bottom corner up two inches to trick your eye into believing its the same size as the one on the upper left. A framers trick when matting pictures. Love the transparent white area in the middle. Thinking of incorporating it more in future work. I would have liked to have made the white blocked out areas on the left and right transparent as well. I couldn't since it was originally grey, I then overpainted it with white. I can only do so many corrections with this style of painting.

The Larger Picture

Quotes on creativity....

" The seed of an idea can just as well be found in the street as in a philosophical text. There is no hierarchy in that sense. In the process of completing a work, there are of course sources that feed into it: memory, neurosis, dialogues, desires, and a good portion of childish beliefs." - Elmgreen and Dragset

"After all, a painter can certainly make a hand of six and seven fingers; each of us sees things from his own view point, just as each of us brings to the picture as he views it something that the painter himself may not see." - Jean Paul Riopelle

I came across these quotes in a Bonhams auction catalog that i was flipping through recently. I'm not a big fan of Elmgreen and Dragset but Jean Paul Riopelle's work seems interesting. Will look him up in the coming days.

Studio View: New Work in Progress.

Studio View:

Starting a new series of paintings. Four are 24" x 24", haven't decided on the colors yet. The painting on the wall is 48" x 48". The taped out area will be a crimson red and I'll add grey and maybe pink? Should be able to finish this piece this weekend.

New Painting

Hard Edge Painting (#125), 2012

Another one finished. Really like this one, but I'm biased towards the colors yellow, white and black. I also like the nice play between the tag marks and hard edge forms. Was originally going to add red but decided not to.

New Works On Paper

Studies for new paintings.

New studies for paintings. Latex enamel and Krink ink on canvas paper, 20" x 16" each.

New Works On Paper

Studies, 2012.

Two color studies, each is approximately 20" x 16", latex and krink ink on canvas pad paper.

New Painting.

Hard Edge Painting (#121), 2012

This piece took a while to finish. Started it in the summer of last year and was about to toss it in the trash. Had technical problems with the support which warped because of moisture. It's the first time I've re-stretched a piece onto a new panel. Was worried that the paint would crack but it worked fine. Happy with the results. I used a brown color for the tag, hard to see in the images.

New Work On Paper

Study, 2012

Krink ink, latex paint on canvas pad.

Finally found a solution for working on quick studies for my paintings. Paper often tore from taping and the ink would seep through the layers of paint. This material is canvas pad, pre gessoed and the ink is Krink. Seems to work well, will make more.

BAU 85: "Go West" @ Beacon Artists Union

BAU 85: "Go West" @ Beacon Artists Union, Beacon New York

January 14 - February 5, 2010

These are installation views of my work in BAU 85: "Go West" exhibition at the Beacon Artists Union in Beacon, New York. The show includes work by Greg Slick and Eleanor White in the project space.

New Painting

Hard Edge Painting (#123), 2012

Finished this work last night as well. It's for the same exhibition at BAU. The painting is 24" x 24". Thinking of doing a whole series of these in the coming weeks.

New Painting

Hard Edge Painting (#124), 2012

Finished this piece last night. Just in time since it slated for an exhibition opening in two days at the BAU (Beacon Artists Union) Gallery in Beacon, New York. The opening is Saturday from 6 - 9pm. The exhibition will be on view from January 14th - February 5th, 2012.

Thanks for the Memorex

Detail View

Hard Edge Painting (#116), 2011

The ability to record and erase anticipated the possibilities of the endless mutable self, the protagonist of the post industrial age.

-Hua Hsu

Recently i re-read this article in an old issue of Artforum. I like this statement since it indirectly touches on some ideas that i think about in relation to some of my work, specifically the hard edge paintings. I think people often mis-interpret my paintings as being specifically about graffiti. The work incorporates it and pays homage to its history but in essence I'm using it as a starting point to explore larger cultural issues.

My use of graffiti is both a personal element of my own history as a graff writer and an essential part of the overall formal composition in the same way color or texture is used. It's similar to the way painters use the figure as a means to explore various issues related to painting. I use the language of graffiti to explore abstract cultural constructs. How history is seen through this spectrum, how it's understood and the dynamic relationship between high and low forms of expression.

Exhibition at Able Fine Arts

Kerosene Garden @ Able Fine Arts, Chelsea, New York

Here are images of my three record sculptures in the exhibition Kerosene Garden at Able Fine Arts. The opening was this past thursday. The exhibition will be on view through January 10, 2012.

Exhibition

Kerosene Garden

Curated by D.Dominick Lombardi @ Able Fine Arts

December 14 - January 10, 2011

Opening Reception:

Thursday, December 15th, from 6 - 8pm.

Click on link for further information:

http://www.ablefineartny.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=g02_b01&wr_id=58

Press - Juxtapoz & Beautiful Decay

Attached are links to nice shout outs from Juxtapoz and Beautiful Decay online.

http://www.juxtapoz.com/Current/in-graffiti-abstract-buffing-by-karlos-carcamo

http://beautifuldecay.com/2011/10/28/karlos-carcamo/

New Painting

Hard Edge Painting (#116), 2011

Here it is, the finished painting! I'm happy with how it turned out even though the colors are a bit harsh. I wanted to get away from the pastel spectrum of the last few paintings. In the end I ended up adding yellow to the top left corner and two layers of grey. Love the fact that you can see the tag through the black paint even with two coats.

The Studio - In Progress

Hard Edge Painting in progress.

Here is a shot of my new painting titled Hard Edge Painting in progress in the studio. It's been a struggle but I think that I'm almost done. Just need to add black on the upper right and maybe one other color. I decided to limit colors to two forms each in order to simplify the process. Some times things begin to get really complicated when layering multiple colors and you end up losing the painting. It's best to keep things simple.

New Painting @ Pulse Los Angeles

Hard Edge Painting (#115), 2011

Latex and spray enamel on canvas over wood panel.

72" x 48"

Hot out of the studio. Currently on view at the Pulse Art Fair in Los Angeles (Sept 30 - Oct3rd), courtesy of Dean Project. Check it out if your in the neighborhood!

http://www.pulse-art.com/losangeles/

Wall Work

Motion in Two Parts (Red/Gold), 2011

Latex and pencil on wall with police batons.

48" x 96" x 3"

New wall piece incorporating a gold background. Click on image to enlarge.

Press: Art in America Online

Article on my work in Art in America Magazine on-line.

Link: http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-opinion/news/2011-04-21/karlos-carcamo-dean-gallery/

Voces: Conversations with Contemporary Artists

Beyond The Object

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

El Museo del Barrio
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: El Café

Admission: Free

Curator José Falconi discusses art-making as process with artist and critic Luis Camnitzer, and contemporary artists Karlos Cárcamo and Milagros de la Torre, whose work is included in Voces y Visiones: Signs, Systems & the City.

VOCES: Conversations with Contemporary Artists
Guest curators engage artists featured in El Museo's Permanent Collection in a conversation exploring contemporary art topics.

http://www.elmuseo.org/en/event/beyond-object