Diane Tanios Gallery Highlights 'Lowbrow' Artists in New Gallery Exhibit, SUPERDOGunderdog:...

Diane Tanios Gallery Highlights 'Lowbrow' Artists in New Gallery Exhibit,
SUPERDOGunderdog: 'Knuckle-Opera for the Socially Challenged'
In the summer of the superhero, five cutting-edge comic artists make a stand
at popular Lakeview Gallery

CHICAGO, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Move over Iron Man, Batman, Hancock and
Hellboy, Chicago gallerist Diane Tanios, owner of the Diane Tanios Gallery,
has assembled her own team of superhumans (AKA comic artists) for what can
only be described as a thrill ride of a new show at her Lakeview art gallery
at 3243 North Broadway. The show opens with a special artist reception on
Friday, August 1, from 6-10 pm.
Aptly titled SUPERDOGunderdog: Knuckle-Opera for the Socially Challenged,
the exhibit features five of the most influential comic artists working today,
four of whom are based here in Chicago. Collectively, the featured artists
have contributed to the growing "lowbrow" art movement that's quickly becoming
the rage among serious art collectors coast-to-coast. The exhibit represents
Tanios' first group show and includes works by: Tony Akins, Elisabeth
Belliveau, Gene Ha, Alex Wald and Jeffrey Zwirek.
"SUPERDOGunderdog further explores themes of human experience and
connectedness in a provocative, yet accessible way," explained Tanios. "Comic
art today, and particularly pop surrealism, is much more complex as the
characters -- despite their superpowers or extraordinary capabilities -- are
forced to deal with the same day-to-day issues that we all do. As a result,
we see aspects of ourselves and people around us that make the art even more
meaningful and relevant."
Also called "lowbrow art" -- a term coined in the late 1970s -- pop
surrealism is an increasingly popular art form. As an art movement, it relies
on its outsider appeal with imagery culled from underground comics, zines,
music subcultures and other pop-culture references. Today it's commonplace
for serious collectors to spend five or even six figures on a highly prized
work by known artists in the medium. Recently, local artists such as Akins,
Ha, Wald and Zwirek have helped establish Chicago as a serious player on the
independent and underground comic scene.
Akins, whose more current work includes penciling for the Jack of Fables
series for DC Comics' Vertigo imprint, gained prominence for his illustrations
for the Star Wars and Aliens comic series.
Wald, a Chicago native, graduated from the School of the Art Institute of
Chicago, and served as art director for '80s underground publisher First
Comics. Wald's wildly-stylized imagery, influenced by anime and Japanese
pop-culture, brought him attention from the music industry. Consequently, he
has done artwork for alternative artists such as Moby, Silverchair and The
Vines.
Gene Ha has done illustrations for comics and graphic novels ranging from
Zander Cannon to Batman and the Justice League of America, for which he was
nominated for an Eisner award -- the industry's most sought after honor -- for
best single issue earlier this year.
Zwirek is the artist behind the comic series Burning Building Comix, which
he describes as "a wordless, or 'pantomime' comic that mixes comic formalism
with traditional storytelling." He was raised in the Chicago suburbs and
earned his degree from Columbia College Chicago, where he studied both fine
arts and fiction writing.
Belliveau, the only artist in the show not based in Chicago, was raised in
Nova Scotia and now works in Montreal. Well known for her illustrations and
artwork, she is also a noted filmmaker, animator and author. Her most
heralded work is her graphic novel Something to Pet the Cat About (2005,
Conundrum Press).
According to Tanios, the gallery space itself has been transformed to
appear like a giant comic book or graphic novel, making it extremely
accessible and appealing to people with disparate tastes and budgets.
"Our first show featured the extremely provocative and intimate
black-and-white photography of David Teplica," Tanios said. "This show is the
perfect follow-up to that, since both shows focus on issues of connectedness
and isolation on some level. David's work was certainly not for the demure,
which is exactly why I chose to open the gallery with that exhibit. But this
show, with all its humor, color and action is something everyone can feel
comfortable with from the minute they walk through the door."
Tanios said most of the works will comprise original completed panels,
drawings and prints, including original comic pages by Wald, Gene Ha and
Akins. The original moleskines Akins created for the Star Wars and Aliens
series are also on display and available for purchase. Prices will range from
$100 to approximately $1,000.
SUPERDOGunderdog: Knuckle-Opera for the Socially Challenged runs through
August 30. For more information, visit http://www.dianetaniosgallery.com.
ABOUT DIANE TANIOS GALLERY:
The Diane Tanios Gallery, established in early 2008, represents
contemporary and cutting-edge artists spanning the breadth of mediums and
styles. Located in Chicago's dynamic and diverse Lakeview neighborhood, the
Diane Tanios Gallery is both a destination and an experience, with each highly
selective exhibit designed to appeal to the seasoned collector as well as to
those with an appreciation of complex yet accessible fine arts.
CONTACT: Keith Romero, 773-512-4270
Jason Sherman, 708-445-8598
SHERMAN communications & marketing
http://www.shermancm.com

SOURCE Diane Tanios Gallery

Keith Romero, +1-773-512-4270, or Jason Sherman, +1-708-445-8598, both of
SHERMAN communications & marketing, for Diane Tanios Gallery