Author: Genevive Zacconi

While preparing for his upcoming solo show at Mirus Gallery in San Francisco, artist Jaime Brett Treadwell took the time to give Hi-Fructose a tour of his new studio location in Philadelphia, where he’s embarked upon his latest series of paintings. Read more after the jump.

With twisting tentacles, complex color schemes and a candy-coated iridescence as his trademarks, Adam Wallacavage creates one-of-a-kind lighting ensembles from his Philadelphia home. A veritable museum of art and design, his ever-evolving residence features a bevy of contemporary paintings, handcrafted ornamentation and turn-of-the-century antiques — serving as the perfect showroom for his work and an inspiring backdrop for its creation. Hi-Fructose recently visited Adam to take a behind the scenes look at his studio, process and art. Check out our exclusive images after the jump!

This past Friday, Philadelphia’s Arch Enemy Arts opened “Tetrachromatic,” a group show focusing on paintings that utilize intense color schemes. While much of the work touches on aesthetic elements of Pop Art, Surrealism and psychedelia, each of the fourteen artists in the show tackles the challenge of a contrasting palette differently, presenting viewers with vibrant imagery in a broad range styles and subject matter. The artist lineup features: Erik Jones, Jel Ena, Ricky Watts, Peca, Eric Richardson, Sarah Danielle Stewart, Archer Dougherty, Steve Cleff, Colin Frangicetto, Joshua Mays, 100taur, Paul Romano, JoKa and Michael Michael Motorcycle. View the full exhibit on the gallery’s preview page and check out opening photos by S. Jenx after the jump.

This past Saturday, Jonathan Levine Gallery in NYC hosted a packed reception for three concurrent solo shows, Tara McPherson’s “Wandering Luminations”, Masakatsu Sashie’s “Coacervate”, and Adam Wallacavage’s “Magic Mountain”. If you missed the opening, you can still view the artwork, which will remain on display until November 16. Read more after the jump and enjoy Hi-Fructose’s exclusive event photos courtesy of Kevin Wilson.

Coming up this Saturday, Jeremy Hush has a new show opening at Thinkspace Gallery in Culver City with Lindsey Carr and Frank Gonzales titled "Curioso." Harkening back to children’s book illustrations of the Victorian Era, Hush creates dark fairytale narratives through dense line work and earth-toned hues. In these sprawling compositions, the spirit of youth is juxtaposed with worlds where ghostly creatures inhabit eroded terrains. Looming amid these depictions of beings, biological and otherworldly, childlike and decaying, is a reminder of both the beginning and imminent end to every lifecycle. Check out an early preview of the show, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes photos after the jump.

New York-based artist Jason Freeny is best known for his whimsically macabre sculptures that blend science with pop culture. Opened through precise vivisection, his re-adaptations of cartoon characters reveal their meticulously detailed and anatomically correct internal parts. In these sculptures, the viewer is shown a previously unimagined side to familiar icons, lending an added dose of reality to fantasy subjects. Hi-Fructose recently caught up with Jason at his studio to view his process and talk about his evolution as an artist. More words and photos after the jump.

While hard at work on a brand new series of paintings, Matt Buck invited Hi-Fructose into his studio space inside of Sacred Tattoo in NYC. Though currently focused on fine art and tattooing, Matt has made a name for himself with notable illustration projects, including the Hemlock Grove graphic novels, rapper Jay-Z’s autobiography and the cover of Chuck Palahniuk’s latest book. This strong background in commercial art carries over into Buck’s oil paintings through eye catching compositions and captivating color pairings. With his latest collection of otherworldly portraits, bodies disassemble as if parts of an organic puzzle of flesh and flora. Adorned with Renaissance costuming and painted in a classical style, each piece is a glimpse of old world aesthetic with a science fiction twist. View the complete body of work at his upcoming solo show at Last Rites Gallery, opening June 29, and check out some behind-the-scenes photos after the jump!

This past Saturday, “LAX/PHL” brought Los Angeles-based Thinkspace Gallery’s roster of artists to Philadelphia, including Adam Caldwell, Jeremy Hush, Sarah Joncas, Jonathan Wayshak, Curiot, Yosuke Ueno and many more. The spectacular exhibit, hosted at Gallery 309, highlighted a diverse array of aesthetics in new contemporary art, including street art, illustration and pop surrealist-influenced work. A packed house of eager fans gathered at the reception for the opportunity to view this sampling of over 40 artists, many of whom have never previously shown in The City of Brotherly Love. If you missed the reception, a second one will take place on Friday, June 7. In the meantime, enjoy some of our exclusive event photos from S. Jenx as well as some artwork images after the jump.

One of the busiest times for art exhibitors in New York, Armory Arts Week just passed, with Fountain Art Fair kicking off on Friday night. Held in the location of the original 1913 Armory Show, the festivities marked the centennial anniversary of the historic exhibit. From its origins within the Brooklyn art scene, Fountain now hosts over 60 geographically diverse galleries and collectives, bringing together an array of edgy and underground contemporary work. Packed with art and featuring live music and performances, the bustling event opened to a full house of eager patrons. View some of some of Hi-Fructose’s exclusive photos after the jump.

This past Friday, Brooklyn’s Cotton Candy Machine hosted opening receptions for Dave Cooper (covered back in Hi-Fructose Vol. 1) and Troy Nixey’s first solo shows at the gallery. While both artists’ backgrounds are deeply rooted in comic books, they presented exhibitions that differed both aesthetically and thematically. In Dave Cooper’s new works on paper, the artist draws continued inspiration from the female form. His women are uniquely stylized with exaggerated folds and dimples embellishing every curve of their plump figures. Through their expressive faces, enlivened by toothy grins, his characters have a seemingly insatiable oral fixation as they take a giddy joy in engaging in nefarious activities. Read more after the jump!