In celebration of Chapter Two of their 2018 Gallery Selections Exhibition, Sparks Gallery will host an evening of artistic creation on Saturday, August 25th from 6pm – 9pm. The evening will feature live painting demonstrations and a fresh look at new works from each of the six featured artists. Join them to explore:
- Surrealist collage by Perry Vasquez
- Fibonacci-inspired painting from Paul Hobson
- Khalid Alkaaby’s arresting nudes
- New illustrations inspired by the “wild women” mythology from Marissa Quinn
- Brady Willmott’s enigmatic oil paintings
- West Coast debut of Monty Montgomery’s Kaleidoskull collaboration with Tony Phillipou.
Khalid Alkaaby, Brady Willmott, and Marissa Quinn will be doing live painting throughout the evening. Wine sales from opening reception to benefit Computers 2 SD Kids. A non-profit organization that provides refurbished computers to families in need and provides educational training and technical support to ensure success.
Brady Willmott:
Creating imagery that inspires the imagination and coupled with classic painting techniques, Brady Willmott’s unique twist on pop surrealism leaves a lasting impression. Willmott paints in oils and is based in Carlsbad, California. Born and raised in Vermont and having lived several years in the mountains of Colorado before relocating to Southern California in 2003, his connection to the ocean and nostalgia for the mountains are evident in his work. A strong imagination, dry sense of humor and successful career as a tattoo artist also play a role.
Marissa Quinn:
Marissa Quinn graduated with a BFA and MFA in painting and drawing from Azusa Pacific University in Los Angeles, CA. Quinn grew up in San Diego and spent her formative years developing a “biological and spiritual understanding of the balance of coastal habitats.” Quinn has a large drawing in the Lancaster Museum of Art and History’s permanent collection entitled “Cyclical Paradoxologies.”
Khalid Alkaaby:
Khalid Alkaaby was born and raised in Bagdad, Iraq, where he worked as an artist and ran an art studio. Alkaaby was forced to leave Iraq due to terrorist attacks and immigrated to San Diego in 2005 and currently works as an artist. He is most known for his beautiful figurative works.
Other Current Exhibitions:
Exhibition: Richard Becker – Float:
For the first time, the renowned sculptor, collected by Hollywood notables and held in the collections of Hewlett Packard and The Walt Disney Company, and also commissioned by institutions such as The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, will be showing paintings alongside a brand new collection of sculptural creations in his signature pop surrealist style.
Known for his figurative bronze sculpture and stainless steel monuments, Becker’s new works in “Float” reveal a dramatic shift in style, subject and material choice following the artist’s re-entry into the world of hearing via a cochlear implant after years of near total deafness.
Exhibition: Craftwork / A Group Show
Sparks Gallery is celebrating excellence in craftsmanship in the upcoming exhibition entitled “Craftwork”. Artwork on view will include pieces in wood, metal, ceramic, and textile. Each artist in the show has been selected for their attention to detail, contemporary presentation of materials, and their residence: all are San Diego artists.
Participating Artists: David Browne, Ron Carlson, David Cuzick, Steven Florman, Erik Gronborg, Val Hebert, Monica Hui Hekman, Brennan Hubbell, James Hubbell, Lenore Simon, Cheryl Tall
Sparks Gallery
Location: 530 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101