Housed in skate shop Supreme's former storage space on Crosby Street, Miami's OHWOW Gallery has set up a pop-up hosting Scott Campbell's If You Don't Belong, Don't Be Long. The Williamsburg-based artist's first solo show in New York City features his signature "cut currency work and three-dimensional pieces," along with a few prints and hologram paintings bearing ghostly and glittery images of skulls, roses, and spiderwebs that remind me of much nicer versions of the AC/DC and KISS mirrors amusement parks used to give away as prizes. Campbell's works made from layered, uncut sheets of U.S. dollar bills acquired from the Treasury are amazing and need to be seen to be believed. Carefully cutting into the currency, the artist has created incredibly detailed 3-part models of a heart and human skull along with a series of framed, 3-dimensional images of elaborate patterns, hearts, butterflies, the grim reaper, or slogans declaring. "Ass Gas or Grass." The intricacy of his designs and the precision of his cutting and sculpting is intense. According to the press release, Campbell's "imagery alludes to mortality, yet sculpted from the currency with which we trade our time and energy" and that's typically equated to power and potency. Campbell's painstakingly complex works remind me of Zane Lewis' collages made from pages and pages of fashion magazine advertisements. The two artists create meticulous and stylish works using materials of cash and commerce.
One look at Campbell's skillfully composed pieces and there is no doubt he has a ton of patience and a steady hand, two necessary traits for his other craft - tattoo art. Opening Williamsburg's Saved Tattoo in 2004, Campbell is a talented tattoo artist who has inked celebs including designer Marc Jacobs, model Lily Cole, and late actor Heath Ledger. Campbell happened to be visiting the OHWOW pop-up the afternoon I dropped by. The artist is heavily illustrated himself and very amiable. He admitted to not sleeping very much when I commented on all the detail in his currency pieces. His loss (of sleep) is definitely our gain.
Learn more about If You Don't Belong, Don't Be Long at oh-wow.com and read more about Campbell at nowness.com. Through May 30th.
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