Legendary Artist Derek Hess to Exhibit New Works
Alongside Detroit’s Own Ron Zakrin at Inner State Gallery
Opening Friday, April 28th Derek Hess returns to Inner State Gallery to showcase his most recent body of work titled EDP. Consisting of drawings, 8-tracks and three-dimensional works on cardboard, the Cleveland-based artist continues to create emotion and depth through line and form that epitomizes his unique and recognizable style.
Joining Hess at Inner State will be Detroit artist Ron Zakrin whose new body of work Exiles portrays mythical beings and social pariahs in a modern context. Both shows are free and open to the public with an artist reception from 7-10pm on Friday, April 28th, 2017.
“EDP is a term used by law enforcement when referring to an ‘emotionally disturbed person’. As someone who deals with the dual diagnosis of bipolar and alcoholism these issues tend to be subjects of my work, or more precisely the feelings they create,” Hess said from his Cleveland studio. Much of Hess’ work depicts dynamic figures and angelic characters in adverse situations. Executed primarily with pen and ink, Hess’ strong technical skills and compassionate feel of his craft continues to set him apart.
“I was drawing on cardboard one day but didn’t like the background of a piece so the idea came to me, why don’t I just cut the foreground figure out, redraw the background on another piece of board, and adhere the figure on top of it? There it was, a figure coming out of the piece and creating nice cast shadows at the same time. I then began pushing the layer numbers creating all sorts of backgrounds, middle grounds and foregrounds” Hess added.
For Hess’ second solo exhibition at Inner State fans and collectors alike are sure to be surprised by this new collection and the return visit from his dog Rommel.
Bringing new work of his own, Detroit artist Ron Zakrin depicts the pariahs and beings that do not fit in with society in his exhibition Exiles. Although a sense of isolation permeates the series, Zakrin’s portrayal of these mythical beings in a modern context has undertones of motion, beauty and humor.
“I'm going to be showing a few of my new paintings on tar paper which, unlike my previous works on tarpaper, undergo a surface preparation resulting in a surface quality unlike anything else,” Ron Zakrin said from his studio in Detroit’s Historic Eastern Market District. “I have also been revisiting techniques that have not been exhibited in quite some time so there will definitely be a surprise or two,” Zakrin added.
Please join us for the opening artist reception Friday, April 28th from 7-10pm as we welcome both artists in attendance. This event is free and open to the public.
To request the advanced collector’s preview, hi resolution images or interview requests email info@innerstategallery.com or call (313) 744-6505.
About Derek Hess:
From concert posters to politically charged fine art pieces, Cleveland-based artist Derek Hess has tested the waters of both the music and art world for over 15 years. Growth, in general, has been an unwavering theme throughout both Hess’ personal and professional life. From a young age, Hess was transfixed by his father Roy’s ability to create on paper the images of planes and tanks that his son had swimming in his head.
Always a fan of music, Hess began booking shows at the Euclid Tavern, a staple for cover bands and blues at the time. He also started creating the promotional flyers for the shows using his own unique vision in harmony with the bands names and genre. Hess’ art has been able to transcend genres as well as generations, which is icing on the cake for the artist.
About Ron Zakrin:
Ron Zakrin has been an ever present creative force in Detroit since the mid nineties, when he emerged on to the underground electronic music set with paintings that provided a visual counterpart to the Detroit sound that was taking the world by storm. Since those early days Ron's work has expanded in scope and scale; no longer strictly focused on man and his relationship with technology. In parallel to his visual art, Zakrin is also a recording artist under the name Goudron. Having toured throughout North America and performing for enthusiastic crowds on both sides of the border, Goudron has a respectable following in the electronic music audience both in North America and Europe.
About Inner State Gallery:
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