June 15–July 13, 2019
Opening reception: June 15, 6–8pm
Steve Turner is pleased to present Surface Tension, an exhibition featuring recent works by six emerging artists: Joaquin Boz (Buenos Aires); Siro Cugusi (Sardinia); Stevie Dix (Suffolk, England); Kiyoshi Kaneshiro (Alfred, New York); Gabby Rosenberg (Los Angeles) and Jessica Wilson (Glasgow). Each of the artists was selected for his or her distinctiveness–in philosophy, motivation, concept, process and result–and for his or her harmony with the others.
The diversity of styles is notable. Boz paints on large wood panels with his hands, adding and removing colorful gestures until he decides that a painting is finished; Cugusi creates fantastical scenes that are based on the flora of his native Sardinia and the fauna of his mind; Dix uses thick passages of paint to create personal symbol-laden paintings; Kaneshiro uses bright pink and yellow glazes to create ceramic vessels that seem to have been frozen while exploding; Gabby Rosenberg composes with color fields to depict figures or abstract forms; and Jessica Wilson applies simple passages of color against solid backgrounds. Though they sound very different when described, the works are compatible. Each has a traumatized surface that bears the scars and scratches of its maker’s labor, self-reflection and improvement.
Joaquín Boz (b. 1987, Rojas, Argentina) studied at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Buenos Aires under the direction of Jorge Macchi. He has had solo exhibitions with Móvil, Buenos Aires (2014); Steve Turner, Los Angeles (2015, 2017, 2018); and Barro, Buenos Aires (2018). He was awarded the First Prize Salón Nacional de Rosario, Buenos Aires (2015) and his work was included in My Buenos Aires, curated by Albertine de Galbert, at La Maison Rouge, Paris (2015). Boz lives and works in Buenos Aires.
Siro Cugusi (b. 1980, Sardinia,) earned a BFA and MFA in painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, Sassari. He has had solo exhibitions at Lux Art Institute, Encinitas (2017); Galleri Kant, Copenhagen (2018); Annarumma Gallery, Naples (2019) and Agencia De Transitos Culturales, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (2019). He will have a solo exhibition at Steve Turner, Los Angeles in March 2020. Cugusi lives and works in Sardinia.
Stevie Dix (b. 1990, Genk, Belgium) lives and works between Suffolk and London. She has had solo exhibitions at Tennis Elbow, New York (2017); The Cabin, Los Angeles (2017); Rod Barton Gallery, London (2017); Nevven Gallery, Gothenburg (2018); L21, Palma (2018) and has had work included in numerous group exhibitions.
Kiyoshi Kaneshiro (b. 1996 New York) received a BFA from Alfred University (2018). His work has been included in group exhibitions at Mindy Solomon Gallery, Miami (2018 & 2019) and Anonymous Gallery, Paris (2019). He lives and works in Alfred, New York.
Gabby Rosenberg (b.1992, Chicago) earned a BA from Hampshire College (2014) and an MFA from CalArts (2018). She had a solo exhibition at Steve Turner, Los Angeles earlier in 2019 and her work is currently on view in Show Me as I Want to Be Seen at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco. Rosenberg lives and works in Los Angeles.
Jessica Wilson (b. 1986, Bedfordshire, England) received an MFA at Glasgow School of Art. She has had a solo exhibition at Gerald Moore Gallery, London (2017) and will soon have a solo exhibition at Niccoli Gallery, Parma (2019.) Her work has also been included in group exhibitions at Syson Gallery, Nottingham (2017); Transition Gallery, London (2016); Sobering Gallery, Paris (2016); Taidelaboratorio Viiskulma, Helsinki (2016) and Standpoint Gallery, London (2015); Wilson lives and works in Glasgow.