Lazarides - Artists - Kelsey Brookes

Biography

Kelsey Brookes is a former biochemist who attributes his raw style to an education system "that refuses to teach scientists to draw". He abandoned biochemistry because "I thought I was going to be there for a few months to get myself some money. Three years later I was left wondering if I had become what I always despised – the funny guy at the water cooler ... except not so funny. I was the confused not so funny guy at the water cooler." Science's loss is art's gain and Kelsey's powerful canvasses attracted due attention when he showed in London for the first time at Santa's Ghetto last year. The work's potency arguably lies in the way its clash of ancient and ultra-modern references even drown out the sex and death which also features heavily. He describes his art as "an unrefined and some would say unskilled mix of sex, comedy and animals which is derived from a true passion for all three, except not necessarily at the same time."

Kelsey's work is also embraced by the California surf scene that devours his free time. He's produced designs for several forward-thinking surf clothing labels including Ocean Pacific and Insight51.

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Available Art

News

Kelsey Brookes - New Works And Retrospective

JUL

Ahead of his solo show at Quint gallery in California later this year, this Friday we're turning over the entire Greek Street basement to confirmed hair-farmer Kelsey Brookes, presenting a host of fantastic new original works on paper from only £100, many of which were created during a recent trip to land-locked Berlin (Kelsey spends up to 8 hours a day surfing in and around his native San Diego; keeping him well away from waves allows the webbing between his fingers to recede just enough for him to hold a pen and brush) alongside a retrospective of his canvas paintings to date, with selected pieces on sale from £1000 + VAT.

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Lotty Dotty, We Love To Party!

JUL

Bäst's unique Brooklyn bounce comes to Newcastle via Lotty Dotty, an edition of only 4 prints exclusive to Lazarides, and a superb mixed-media original work on paper, Fryin Pan.

We're also in the process of adding some affordable original sketches and studies from Kelsey Brookes, Erica Il Cane, and Jonathan Yeo to the website this week, as well as a selection of the huge range of prints currently available at Lazarides Newcastle, including a few vintage Frank Kozic gig posters, check our available art section or individual artist pages for updates.

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America: Land Of The Free Booze, Home Of The Rave.

JUL

Nightmare on Greek St vs the Outsiders (2)

The art crawl began last Thursday with Ben Turnbull's depiction of the American dream gone wrong; Captain Sensible, Saddam Hussein, Guantanamo babies and George Dubya cryogenically frozen, presumably so he can turn up in the future and cock that up as well ...A very grim fairy tale indeed which left down stairs feeling like something between a kindergarten and a torture chamber.

Buoyed by the thought of a terrible future for our kids, the heat and liquor, we stumbled punch drunk to Charing Cross Rd where Lazarides had hung a new group show.

Once there, bedazzled by original works of gods like Dondi, the throng of urchins, wiseguys and the faithless quaffed beer like it was literally going out of fashion in favour of cocktails, because we all know that unless you've had more than 12 drinks, dancing in a gallery does feel weird. So drink the shame away I say ......

To all those that came and saw, cheers ... until next time, I'm off for a full blood transfusion and a word with myself.

Thanks to Tiger, Acyde and Gwen Guthrie. 90% of me is Rum.