Skidmore Contemporary Art is delighted to present two new exhibitions. “Luminosity” is Richard Baker’s third one-person exhibition at Skidmore Contemporary Art. The gallery welcomes artist Laurie Raskin in her first solo exhibition, “LA Story,” with Skidmore Contemporary Art.

Richard Baker’s “Luminosity” explores the distinctive figurative subject matter for which his work is known and reveals a new emphasis– the luminous landscape of the California desert.
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Deuce! 2017, oil on canvas, 30″ x 40″

The artist talks about his work… “My paintings explore the effect of light and it’s absence on scenery, objects and figures. Though representational, the paintings also have abstract qualities. The paintings have more to do with my eye than my psyche and are a celebration of the sensual pleasure of light and color.”

Baker’s desert includes not just vast open vistas of land and sky, dramatic weather, and empty roads leading to the horizon, but the cultivated landscapes of Palm Springs and ‘All Other Desert Cities.’ This desert includes the manicured green plains of golf courses, storm clouds over freeway overpasses, and colorfully attired spectators at tennis matches. Accompanying “Luminosity” is a full-color exhibition brochure.

Los Angeles-based artist Laurie Raskin has an unusual method for creating her colorful pop paintings. She uses the processes of collage and antiquated technology to create black and white monoprints. These she intricately works with layers of gouache in palettes and patterns that evoke mid-century modern design and social culture. She finds much of her inspiration from her personal memories of growing up in Los Angeles in the 1960’s. For the collages, she mostly uses her own photographs, but also draws on source material from her extensive collection of vintage magazines, books and postcards.
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I Scream for Ice Cream, 2018, mixed media on paper, 26″ x 40″

In 2018, Laurie Raskin was featured in a one-person exhibition at the Gallerie Bellechasse in Paris. Her work has been included in numerous group exhibitions at galleries and art fairs in the United States and Europe. Raskin’s work is held in private, public, and corporate collections internationally.

In 2017, she collaborated with Didden & Co in Belgium to create a carpet line which was featured in the October 2017 issue of Paris Match Magazine. In 2015, her work was licensed by Art on Fashion in the UK for their spring line. In 1984, she was one of 12 artists chosen to design an official signature series poster for the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Over 100 murals of her art have also appeared in retail stores.

On view: February 9 – March 16, 2019; Skidmore Contemporary Art is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9-5pm.

Where: Skidmore Contemporary Art, B-4, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, 90404
Phone: 310-828-5070
Website: https://skidmorecontemporaryart.com