Richard Merkin

#9 Geeks and Gargoyles (for Nelson Algren)

1968

Loren Munk (American, b. 1951), mixed media photograph collage painting signed Loren dated 1989. 13" x 19" inches sheet, framed 20.25" x 26" inches. This one has a drawing of 2 African American kids in a park at the water fountain. Titled "Squirt" (squirt) along with 2 photos of a white boy playing with the water fountain and the details of how the artwork came about. The artist Loren Munk (born 1951) is primarily known for his YouTube nickname James Kalm as an uploader of videos about New York exhibitions, amongst others. He presents himself as a maker of contemporary paintings for several decades and of cubist paintings of urban imagery. Munk has received accolades for his drawings and mosaics. He differs from traditional mosaic artists by the manner in which he incorporates glass into his decorative paintings. His unique and innovative use of materials such as mirror, gold-leaf and glass mosaic affirmed him as a founding force of Kitsch Art and a leading member of New York Neo-Expressionism. Munk's work debuted in SoHo in 1981 with a double show at J. Fields Gallery and Gabrielle Bryers. Since then, he has overseen an international career. In addition to exhibiting in Brazil, France, Germany and the United States, Munk has received national and overseas, public and private commissions. He is well represented in important collections throughout Europe, South and North America and the Middle East. Most recently, Munk has been producing a series of paintings which tackle the subject of art itself through a historical and diagrammatic lens. Munk documents the New York art world in YouTube videos, using the name James Kalm. Timeline: 1979 Attended Art Students League, New York 1973-75 Attended University of Maryland at Ramstein, Germany while in US Army 1969-72 Attended Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho 1951 Born, Salt Lake City, Utah Select Group Exhibitions 2018 “Under Erasure” curated by Heather and Raphael Rubinstein at Pierogi Gallery New York 2016 "It Was Never Linear: Recent Painting" at the Sheldon Museum of Art Lincoln Neb. with: Robert Bordo, Dawn Clements, Lois Dodd, Michelle Grabner, Colin Prahl, Peter Saul, Barbara Takenaga, and Stanley Whitney 2014 "Some Artists" curated by Matthew Deleget at Minus Space. David Diao, Mary Beth Edelson, Alfred Jensen, George Maciunas, Loren Munk, Ward Shelley, John Zinsser 2013 "Coming Together: Surviving Sandy Year 1" curated by Phong Bui for the Dedalus Foundation, "The Decline and Fall of the Art World: Part I" curated by Nick Lawrence at Freight+Volume, N.Y. "Reticulate" at McKenzie Fine Art Inc., N.Y. "The Pyramids Along the Nile" at English Kills Gallery 2012 "When We Were Ancient" organized by Ethan Petitt at Teddy's Bar, Williamsburg "Heroes" curated by Julie Torres at Small Black Door, Ridgewood Queens, N.Y. 2011 "ABC123" curated by Janet Goleas at Eric Firestone Gallery, East Hampton, N.Y. "6 Who Paint" curated by Fred Valentine at Big & Small/Casual, Long Island City, N.Y. "It's All Good: Apocalypse Now" curated by Richard Timperio, Side Show Gallery, Brooklyn, N.Y. "Paper 2011" at Janet Kurnatowski Gallery, Brooklyn. "NEW year NEW work NEW faces" by Jason Andrew and Deborah Brown at Storefront Gallery. "Unfinished Pictures" curated by Kristin Calabrese...

Dakota Nightshade (Native American, Indian piece) Mixed media (ink, paint etc. red thread stitching) Framed 43 X 57 sheet 36 X 49 Hand signed, dated and titled by artist. (with a l...