VASHTIE

TT Gallery is proud to present the exhibition of COPE2, Transition, from April 7th – 18th, 2011. Opening Reception – Thursday April 7, from 7pm-10pm.
Transition, a solo exhibition of new works on canvas by Bronx based artist COPE2. As his first solo exhibition at the gallery, Transition, features canvases with various types of mediums reflecting on graffiti aesthetics synthesized with fragments of street art elements. These new chapter of paintings arise from the obstruction of producing graffiti pieces in the streets paradigm to a permanent transfixed surface. COPE2 integrates color and texture to translate his raw energy, intertwined with his trademark bubble letters and tags, into abstract compositions on canvas.
Among the original paintings on exhibition will be 100 limited edition giclée print on archival paper titled Most Wanted, 18” x 24”, 2011.
COPE2’s paintings have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in galleries and auctions throughout the United States and abroad. He is a self-taught artist who is a celebrated figure for over 30 years in the graffiti art culture. One of New York City’s most prolific graffiti artists, he began tagging his name in the South Bronx in 1978. He developed his style in the subways and streets of the Bronx creating graffiti productions throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s achieving international recognition for his distinctive style. In recent years COPE2 has been commissioned by Time Magazine and designed a set of sneakers for Converse and a full clothing collection for Adidas. He has worked with Steiner Sports collaborating with the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter producing graffiti on memorabilia. His work has even crossed into the virtual realm with appearances in video games such as Mark Eckos: Getting up and Rockstar Games: Grand Theft Auto IV. He has also delved into curating successful group art exhibitions. Today, you can catch COPE2 in the studio creating art on a daily basis. COPE2 crosses between art world, mainstream and street culture alike.
www.cope2.net

COPE2 (Fernando Carlo, Jr.) was born in 1968 in Manhattan, NYC. He currently lives and works in the Bronx, NY.
Solo Exhibitions (selected) Fine Lines, Skalitzers Contemporary Art, Berlin, Germany; Cope2, Defiance Gallery, Chicago, IL
Group Exhibitions (selected) El Museo’s Bienal: The S-Files, El Museo Del Barrio, New York, NY (forthcoming); Urban Art, World Cultural Heritage Site, Völklin, Germany (forthcoming); Under The Influence, Phillips De Pury & Company, New York, NY; The Art Of Basketbal_l, Public Works Department, Miami, FL; _Burning Hearts, Galerie MathGoth, Paris, France; Pop Art, Freeman‘s Auction, Philadelphia, PA; Down By Law, Eric Firestone Gallery, East Hamptons, NY; Color Correct, Eden Gallery, New York, NY; Graphic Attack, 1AM Gallery, San Francisco, CA; N’ap Boule: A Benefit for the people of Haiti, Anonymous Gallery, New York, NY; NOW: Art of the 21st Century, Phillips De Pury & Company, New York, NY; Come Correct, The Showroom Gallery, New York, NY (Guest Curator); New York Legends, McCaig & Welles Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (Guest Curator); New York, New York, Phillips De Pury & Company, New York, NY; Graffiti – Street Art, Millon & Associés, Paris, France; Street Art, Artcurial, Paris, France; TAG au Grand Palais, Gallizia Collection, Paris, France; Art Urbain, Dominique Asselin, Paris, France; Subway Series: The New York Yankees and The American Dream, The Bronx Musuem of Arts, Bronx, NY; Graffiti Art Auction, Guernsey’s, New York, NY; Tags, Bombs & Scratchiti, Martinez Gallery, New York, NY;
Cope2: True Legend monograph, 275 Pages, 2003. Righters.com
Image courtesy of the artist.