Inner State Gallery Presents Two Whimsical Solo Exhibitions
Baker’s Dozen by Kevin Lyons + Getting In Shape By Ellen Rutt Open October 21st
Opening Friday, October 21st at Inner State Gallery, artist Kevin Lyons brings his first Detroit solo exhibition Baker’s Dozen to Eastern Market. The New York City-based artist, designer and cultural trendsetter will showcase new handcut wood paintings, works on paper and newly created hand-painted screen print editions featuring his iconic monsters.
Joining Lyons at Inner State will be Detroit artist Ellen Rutt, who exhibits an entirely new collection of mixed media pieces, along with an immersive installation for her solo exhibition Getting In Shape. Both shows are free and open to the public from 7pm - 10pm on Friday October 21st and promise to be one of the most engaging exhibitions in Detroit this fall.
“Detroit is such an amazing, interesting place. When I was developing my show at Inner State I first and foremost wanted to make it a celebration. Bury it below and raise it above the approach of art. Just make stuff that is fun and fun to look at. And that is what I do...that is what my Monsters do. They party, and riot, and rap, and play, and build, and cipher, and slow roll...Baker's Dozen is all of that wrapped into one show,” Lyons said while working in the gallery’s studio.
Baker’s Dozen comes off the heels of another wildly successful year of Murals In The Market, which found Lyons in town for a new mural, artist talk, print editions and more. Joining Lyons with a solo exhibition of her own is fellow Murals In The Market alumni and Detroit artist Ellen Rutt, who returns with Getting In Shape marking Rutt’s second exhibition in as many years at Inner State Gallery.
With her latest body of work Rutt experiments using play as a method of understanding oneself, to find an opportunity to be immersed in nonsense and walk away with a narrative. Her playful approach to color and shape continues to evolve throughout her latest body of work.
“I’m just always curious about how our minds work, and how we each make sense of the world around us. By creating a life-size stage for a series of interactive installation-based photographs and layered paper works, I am using collage as a vehicle to embrace and explore the theatrics of being human,” Rutt said from her studio in Detroit.
Please join us for our opening artist reception from 7-10pm as we welcome both artists in attendance. This event is free and open to the public.
To join the advanced collector’s preview, hi rez images or interview request email info@innerstategallery.com or call (313) 744-6505.
About Kevin Lyons:
Kevin Lyons has worked with such clients as Nike, Converse, Umbro, Coca-Cola, American Express, among others. In 2010, he won an Emmy for title design for Eric Ripert's PBS series, Avec Eric, and also won a Cannes Golden Lion for his campaign for Diesel while Managing Partner at Anomaly NYC.
Kevin is the former global Creative Director for Urban Outfitters. In a 7-year tenure, he helped shape the brand holistically, including: exterior signage, retail environment, digital design, packaging, posters & promotions, book and catalog design, labeling, and products (t-shirts, apparel, and lifestyle product graphics). Kevin also led the acclaimed music program, oversaw the brand's PR and marketing and the corporate design for the umbrella company Urban Outfitters, Inc., (Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters).
Prior to Urban Outfitters, Kevin served in a variety of diverse roles including, Design Director at Stussy Worldwide; Art Director for Spike Jonze's Girl Skateboard Company; US Art Director for Tokion Magazine and Senior Designer for Nike Inc., where he was responsible for branding several big-time college and pro sports franchises.
In 2001, Kevin was named to "The Top Forty Designers Under Thirty" by ID Magazine. He has written articles for the AIGA Journal, as well as addressing the AIGA twice including once as a published recipient of its Fresh Dialogues Series. He has held teaching assistant positions at both RISD and CalArts, and has been a visiting critic at the Yale Graduate School of Design. He was an Assistant Professor of Typography at the Pratt Institute from 2000-2002.
Kevin produces two clothing lines; one for 2K, called Atlantis and the other under his personal namesake, NATURAL BORN - both are distributed globally. His own work has been published worldwide from Thrasher, The Face, Lodown, The New York Times Magazine, Arkitip, Anthem and Refill. He has shown worldwide including solo shows in Paris, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Tokyo.
Kevin Lyons is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design where he received a degree in film and has a Masters Degree from CalArts.
About Ellen Rutt
Ellen Rutt is a Detroit-based multidisciplinary artist with a focus on complementary gallery works and large scale public murals. Her mural work has been featured throughout the country in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland and New York, and her gallery works have appeared in San Francisco and Detroit alongside some of contemporary arts best and brightest. She received her BFA from the University of Michigan and currently lives and works in Detroit.
About Inner State:
Inner State Gallery is Detroit’s premier art gallery for established and emerging artists, from Detroit and across the globe. Relocating to Eastern Market in 2013, Inner State Gallery has exhibited the work of local artists Glenn Barr, Camilo Pardo and Ron Zakrin as well as international street artists Nychos, Askew, Ben Frost and Meggs. The 10,000 square foot building is home to two exhibition spaces, an artist residency program, a print studio and the gallery's publishing company 1xRUN.
More information can be found at
http://innerstategallery.com
http://www.naturalborn.com