A prolific artist in the 60's and 70's, a filmmaker, a member of bohemian society that included Anaïs Nin, Renate Druks has been out of the public eye for quite some time. Now the Renate Druks art work is once again available for public view at the Clair Obscur Gallery in a show entitled "SIRENS OF SURREALISM", in conjunction with the two young LA based female artists: Dame Darcy and Michelle Agostini.
Reception: Saturday, July 2
7pm - 10pm
RENATE DRUKS
Renate Druks is a painter who creates stylized life forms that manage to capture on canvas the caricatured essence of the women who pose as her subjects. Like D.H. Lawrence before her, she manifests an uncanny understanding of all sentient life and assembles fantastic amalgamation of women and animals eerily metamorphosed into complementary figures. Renate Druks' paintings, however marginally related to the psychedelic influences in the arts at the time, became very popular during the 1960's and 1970's for album covers, movie posters, book covers and magazines.
Born in Vienna, Austria in 1921, Renate Druks first studied art at the Vienna Art Academy for Women and later at the Art Students League in New York City.
After her formal training Ms. Druks embarked on the life adventures that would further shape her craft, taking up residence in Mexico where she spent three years of intensive self study, painting tirelessly and developing her own techniques and personal style. By 1950 Renate Druks had moved to Malibu California, then a rural strip of coastline, where she built a house and studio.
Ms. Druks first major solo-artist show, at the Lane Galleries in Westwood California, opened in 1957 and brought "instant" success, and critical acclaim. Ms. Druks showed and sold her paintings exclusively at the Lane Galleries until 1965. Thereafter, Ms. Druks exhibited at several galleries in the Los Angeles area including the Image and Myth, Mascagnis, the Malibu Art and Design Gallery, and the Municipal Art Gallery in Barnsdall Park.
Later, the Malibu home became the showplace where patrons and collectors gathered to view, commission and purchase Ms. Druks' work. The home also became a well known salon for avant garde artists, actors, film makers, writers and theatre personalities, like Kenneth Anger, , James Bridges, Colleen Dewhurst, , Curtis Harrington, John and Joan Houseman, Christopher Isherwood, Jack Larson, Henry Miller, and good friend Anais Nin. Ms. Nin and Ms. Druks had been friends since the famous "Come as Your Madness" masquerade ball, thrown at the Malibu home in 1953 Indeed Kenneth Anger's film "Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome" grew out of this ball. Ms. Druks acted in the film, designed makeup and assisted in the production. Later, Ms. Druks produced and directed several films of her own Including "A Painter's Journal" which showed in 18 West Coast art theatres.
- Collector Herbert Cobey, formerly a Director of the Brooklyn Museum had this to say about Renate Druks work: "Renate Druks, in my opinion, in certain particular ways, is the finest artist in the United States today and one of the best in the world."
- Arthur Miller said this: "Real imagination, good drawing and personal technique."
- Anais Nin effused: "In the paintings of Renate Druks, one can contemplate what happens when the imagination is allowed to run free. She is painting the whole mythology of woman in relation to the animal both wild and domestic. Look at the paintings of Renate Druks. Enter her world of women, animals, trees, rocks oceans and mountains never seen before. It is her dream in which we can participate with all our senses."
DAME DARCY
Dame Darcy won a scholarship to the San Francisco Art institute at the age of 17.
There she majored in film and animation, studying under George Kuchar and Larry Jordan. During this time she also began self publishing Meat Cake Comix and performing, releasing albums, and touring, in the band Caroliner, and with Lisa Carver. Dame Darcy illustrated Lisa’s Magazine Rollerderby, and other Bay Area magazines and papers. After moving to New York in 1992 the Meat Cake comic book series began publication with Fantagraphics Books Inc., as well as the Meat Cake Compilation Hard Bound book internationally.
Dame Darcy began working as a freelance illustrator and animator for many NY magazines and papers such as the Village Voice, The NY Press and Paper Mag etc.,
and production companies such as MTV, Cartoon Network, and Curious Pictures.
She also taught a class on cartooning and self-publishing at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. Fine art painting, illustrations from her various books and handcrafted dolls began being exhibited in New York Galleries and Galleries worldwide. Her various bands at this time toured and put out albums. Dame Darcy toured with Michael Gira from the Swans and Angels of light, and opened for Sonic Youth, Will Oldem, and John Spencer Blues Explosion among others. Working on the side as a fashion model. During this time she also worked with various independent producers to make a series of short films and aired her T.V. program Turn of the Century, Directed by Lisa Hammer.
In 2001 Dame Darcy relocated to Los Angeles. Where her graphic novel Frightful Fairytales was released on Ten Speed Press. Her drawings are represented in New York by the Bellweather Gallery in Chelsea and in LA by the Richard Heller Gallery in Bergamot Station. Her CD Dame Darcy’s greatest Hits was released in the US on Action Driver Records. And the CD My Eyes Have Seen the Glory was released in Tokyo on Press Pop. Her Fashion line with Baby Doll/Ku, produces ladies tops based on DD designs. She also designed fashion with Anna Sui based in NYC , Coigirl Magic, and Laforet based in Tokyo. Her Designs and comics can currently be seen in the Tokyo based Gothic Lolita Bible. Dame Darcy was hired to do interior designs for the homes of Courtney Love, and Margaret Cho, as well designed the interior of the Parlour club and a window display for Amoeba Records in LA. She is currently represented in LA by Synchronicity Productions in development of her animated TV series.
The Gernert Co. based in New York represents her publishing, including graphic novel version of the literary classic Jane Eyre, published by Putnam Penguin. She continues the comic book series Meat Cake while coordinating the production and publication of Gasoline, her latest graphic novel to be made into a feature film of the same title. Her band Death By Doll signed to the Emperor Penguin label and plays frequently. Her international fan base documented at 10,000 grows daily as she continues to tour in the U.S. and internationally, to Europe, Japan, and Austrailia.
Clair Obscur Gallery is delighted to present the first exhibit of paintings by this multi talented artist.
VERONICA AGOSTINI
Veronica Agostini was born on July 18, 1971, in Italy into an old, established Roman family with a long history of artists and professionals, most of whom have followed their chosen careers to distant parts of the world.
In 1986 Veronica began her studies in Graphic Design, Painting and History of Art at one of the most prestigious schools of Fine Arts in Rome, the "Istituto d'Arte Silvio d'Amico." She was named among the top graduating students of 1991.
Living and studying in Rome, considered the greatest "living museum" in the classical world, Veronica experienced Art as intrinsic to her life as family, culture and history. In 1992, in Italy she begin a career in Graphic Design. In 1993, she was offered a commission to paint a mural for a Brazilian nightclub and discovered a new outlet for her artistic vision. Continuing her post-graduate work at the "Accademia del Superfluo", she studied the Art of Faux-Trompe l'Oeil to further develop her technique in mural decoration.
However, her real vocation lay in her love of painting--the fascination with the blank canvas, the palette and the easel that began as a child under the tutelage of her grandfather, the renowned painter, Sergio Agostini. Five years ago, Veronica's other childhood dream became a reality--to live and work in the United States. The realization of many murals has kept her busy to the present day.
In September 1999, she had her first show. In the fall of 2000, she participated in her first solo exhibition in North Hollywood, CA at Armendariz Productions (November 20th & 21st). At the end of December 2000, Veronica placed her art in SOHO Gallery, Studio City, CA, in a group exhibition, and since she has exhibit all over Los Angeles. In 2005 she exhibit in her native town, at the Boccondivino Gallery in Rome, Italy. Now a resident of California, she has fulfilled commissions for large murals in many Los Angeles homes and businesses. She continues to work and paint at her studio in Silverlake. The work presented by the artist in this show are mainly recent paintings.
