Roq La Rue Gallery
Presents
“Once Upon a Time”
paintings and prints by Catalina Estrada

also

“Ever After”
new paintings by Moira Hahn, Amy Crehore, and Gretchen Ryan

Opens Friday April 14th 6-10 pm

(runs until May 6th) Music by: DJ Vodka Twist

Click here for online gallery

Roq la Rue is thrilled to present two shows this April. Our main show is Catalina Estrada (Barcelona, Spain) in a show entitled “ Once Upon a Time”. Born and raised in Colombia, and living in Barcelona for the past 7 years, Catalina brings all the colors and graphic power of Latin-American folklore and refines it with a subtle touch of modern sophistication. Catalina cites as her influences the lush flora and fauna found in her native Columbia as well as the rich history of music, literature, and the stories told to her there when she was young. Moving to Barcelona added bold new elements to Catalina’s work, specifically the influx of worldly culture and exposure to cross cultural influences.
CATALINA ESTRADA
One of the most important things about Catalina’s work and what sets it aside from the majority of contemporary art is that it is primarily steeped in joy. Her canvases and digital work fairly burst with ebullience yet also are restrained by a steady sharp hand and a modern appreciation of graphic boldness. When her work depicts happiness and serenity it is done without a trace of irony.

Inundated with the terrible turmoil our world is experiencing now, Catalina seeks to create a small, simple paradise within her work. Using her own memories of a magical time spent in Colombia, Catalina crafts a timeless, gentle Utopia that all are welcome to participate in. And judging by the rapturous response her work evokes in others, many people do. Presented as a fresh and new design talent by Communication Arts and Computer Arts magazines, her work has also been featured by Die Gestalten Verlag and Graphic Magazine. She is also profiled in an upcoming issue of Swindle Magazine.

As a companion show to “ Once Upon a Time” Roq la Rue is featuring new paintings by Moira Hahn, Amy Crehore, and Gretchen Ryan in a show entitled “Ever After”. Each artist uses similar elements found in Catalina’s art in their work, although in much different ways.

 

Gretchen Ryan (Los Angeles)

grew up at the base of the Rocky Mountains, wherein she had a magical and wild childhood and off of which she fell in a terrible car accident as a teenager. Experiences from her youth and with disability contribute to her inspirations as a painter, as does her commitment to the oft-neglected rights of animals.
Her current work explores the vulnerability of little girls, and the often-profound strengths they exhibit in the face of adversity and exploitation.

 

 

Moira Hahn (Los Angeles)

returns to the gallery with her incredible watercolor paintings of animals in human predicaments. Hahn’s study of nineteenth century Japanese ukiyo-e masters Kunisada (Toyokuni), Kuniyoshi, and Zeshin inspired her to create scenes infused with sly humor and a nod to the power plays that occur in nature that echo our own human ones, all flawlessly executed in her remarkable and notoriously difficult watercolor technique.

 

Amy Crehore (Eugene, OR)

will be exhibiting two new paintings in her well-received “Monkey Love” series. Amy creates a different kind of utopia in which lovely island girls lounge provocatively with sailor suited monkey companions in tropical idylls. Her work hints at a naughty sensuality without dipping into the profane and carries a joyous carefree innocence despite the potentially charged subject matter.