It brightened our week receiving a visit from the wonderful Sage Vaughn, bringing a brief glimpse of California sunshine in his rucksack, which is always an absolute pleasure. Although it definitely wasn't all play and no work. After installing Kingdom with long time collaborator Michael Muller at The Outsiders Newcastle, he accompanied Steve Lazarides on a romantic bird-watching trip to Scotland before heading back down to the Big Smoke and Execution Dock to sketch out his exclusive Nocturne etching released earlier this week. We even managed to squeeze in a Stanley Donwood book launch and a printing lesson into the mix before packing his bags and sending him off to Heathrow. Till next time Mr Vaughn ... please don't leave it so long, we miss you already!
Biography
At Lazarides we admittedly (albeit sheepishly) pride ourselves on the unconventional approach of our artists. California-based Sage Vaughn is yet another one.
Whilst his pictures use motifs often seen around this way – animals in Vaughn's Wildlife series, superheroics in his Wildlives project – they are handled with considerable sensitivity and intelligence. In Wildlife the less-than-straightforward co-existence of nature and technology is portrayed in the most subtle of ways, via illustration that's contemporary in the height. A seemingly simple picture of a bird perching on a branch, as a helicopter approaches, instantly bathes the viewer in all the mixed feelings one should have at seeing such a scene – but rarely stops to consider. In Wildlives, children in jury-rigged costumes and battle armour prepare for action, and a young worker, a frustrated shop clerk perhaps, dons a cape.
This all comes from a moustachioed gun nut. There are more surprises to Vaughn: "He thinks of art as a privilege, not a gift ... Vaughn approaches his studio at 9am and leaves at 6am unless he's preparing for a show, when he never leaves. He is the only artist with a blue-collar mentality" said Malibu magazine. And they should know.
News
Hot off the press! Sage Vaughn's and Mike Muller's colourfully painted photographs of sharks have found their way on the latest single from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The cover for Monarchy of Roses was designed by the duo following their exhibition Opposing Instincts at The Outsiders London. Can't get much hotter than this!
Last night saw the opening of Sage Vaughn and Michael Muller's highly anticipated joint show at The Outsiders London. With Lazarides artists out in force after a hard days work at The Old Vic Tunnels and a full house of Lazarides friends and fans the evening went off in a BIG way ...
Last night, Team Lazarides brought their A-game for the launch of Sage Vaughn's first solo exhibition in the UK. Spanning two floors and the Rathbone Gallery stairwell, Children Of A Lesser God is certainly not an exhibition to be missed as evidenced by the brilliant art and smiling faces in these preview pics.
New this week is the limited edition print, Ruby Throats, from artist Sage Vaughn's signature Wildlives series. Using a combination of printing techniques, this edition began life as a giclee production, before having the 'blossom' overprinted using traditional silkscreen methods.
Also making an online debut this week is Jonathan Yeo's Leaf Wallpaper. Patrons of Soho House in Los Angeles, and of Yeo's current show with Lazarides in Beverly Hills will already be familiar with the apparently innocuous leaves, some less so of closer inspection revealing Jonathan's trademark pornographic collage work.
