Starting on October 30th the well-known international graffiti artist Peeta exhibits his work at Pretty Portal Düsseldorf and is therefore seen in a German gallery for the first time.

The Italien artist Peeta (alias Manuel Di Rita) made his first graffiti in a small town somewhere between Venice and Padua in 1993. Today, sixteen years later, Peeta’s work is an inherent part in the international graffiti scene. Here, at Pretty Portal, Peeta can be seen in a German gallery for the first time.

This artists style is extraordinary: Beginning with organic conceptions in his early work, Peeta soon develops his very own typically typographic style, that is characterized by its impressive visual depth and unique 3D-composition. For some years now Peeta is, next to his wall pieces and murals, also working on canvas and sculptures. In the artists opinion those media don’t exclude, they rather inspire each other. Working on a sculpture gives him new ideas for wall pieces, while on the other hand those graffiti inspire him to build the same furious forms in a sculptural way. The wall graffiti are dynamic and outstanding – the works on canvas show the same energy but with more privacy. Peeta shows his skills and experience on all areas.

Not only Italy, but also the Mecca for graffiti, New York City, influenced Peeta’s work: In 2003 he became part of the FX crew of New York City and three years later he shall be a RWK crew member. At home in Padua he already was part of the EAD crew. Together with other famous international street artists (for example ecb or Loomit, both already held an exhibition at Pretty Portal) he’s always looking for new projects all over the world.

Next to his activity on graffiti and street art, Manuel Di Rita is working as an industrial and product designer. That’s another important impulse for his art, which is best expressed in his sculptures. Here polyurethane, wood and cellulose acetate meets leather, paper and cardboard. This combination of design and graffiti is one of the characteristics of Peeta’s art, that causes a permanent further development.
Exhibition:
30.10. – 27.11.
Vernissage:
30.10. /19h – 23h

Pretty Portal
Brunnenstr. 12
40223 Düsseldorf

more Information:
http://www.prettyportal.de

Loomit – Rahmen sind schwierig (Frames are difficult)

Pretty Portal presents a new solo show by german graffiti-legend Loomit, starting at the end of september.

In 1983, Loomit (alias Mathias Köhler) did his first graffiti at the age of 15. 26 years later he is one of the most known and desired graffiti artist in Germany. Though everything started with a water tower in a small town in Bavaria and a following lawsuit.

The national and international streetart scene knows Loomit for his large-sized and colouful work, that stands out with its extreme three-dimensionality. Single letters and words warped beyond recognition are creating their own new space. His fantastic pictures filled with mysterious characters and secrets make Loomit the epitome of german graffiti.

To escape the mostly illegal streetart underground, Loomit always worked for advertising agencies and private clients. Next to his graffiti-life he received a tatoo artist training by the New York writer-legend Seen, also known as the „godfather of graffiti“. Today Loomit is a legend and a role model himself, looking back on 26 years of experience in graffiti and streetart. In 2002 his work was honoured with the art price of Schwabingen.

The city streets will always be Loomit’s favourite activity area, but fortunately – if you ask galleries all over the world – Mathias Köhler also works on canvas and wood. Thus, the solo show at Pretty Portal presents smaller canvas pieces, that make an innovative use of techniques and materials possible.

Loomit – Rahmen sind schwierig (Frames are difficult)

Exhibition:
25.09. – 23.10.
Vernissage: 25.09. /19h – 23h

Pretty Portal
Brunnenstr. 12
40223 Düsseldorf

more Infomation:
http://www.prettyportal.de

The international exhibition d’RAW aims to contribute to what inside-the-scene folks, the broader public, as well as professional art people think about graffiti writing in relation to contemporary art without beeing booby trapped in a one-sided street versus museum discussion. In contrast, the exhibition approaches this topic from the commonly shared base of drawings. dRAW wants to propose an open minded view towards graffiti writing and street art by presenting historical, ground breaking, simply astonishing or otherwise interesting paper-pencil material as an evidence – not for prosecution, but for quality.

Artists:
Agit – ECB Hendrik Beikirch – Bill Blast – Bitucas – Blade – Anne-Lise Coste – Crash – Boris Tellegen/Delta – Dran – Dondi White – Dr. Rat – Ekundayo – Enes – Erosie – Fafi – Futura 2000 – Pierre Galic – Barry McGee – Os Gemeos – Harald Naegli – Herakut – Honet – Jesic – Koor – Philipp König – Lady Pink – Dave de Leeuw – Loomit – Peter Michalski – Mozes & Taps – Noc 167 – Phase 2 – Quik – Rammellzee – Roa – Seen – Shoe – Collin van der Sluijs – Swoon – The Dulk – Christine Würmell – Won ABC – Zedz – Zephyr
With photos by Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant

d’RAW – International Drawing Showcase

September 12. 2009 – November 1. 2009
Opening hours:
mon – sat   9am – 11pm
sun   11am – 5pm

admission free

Schnuck*
Bongerd 18
6411 JM Heerlen/The Netherlands
+31 (0)45-577 22 00
http://schnuck.nl/1031/hompage