The New Opulence
Artists Working in Maximalism

Lauren Marx, Hunter Saxony III, Bryan Kachel, Jeffery Jacobson (Weirdo), Jason Puccinelli, and Electric Coffin

Opening night reception Saturday August 3rd 6-9pm

Roq La Rue is pleased to present a wildly diverse group show that is united in its theme of Maximalism. Interior design has been trending away from the blandly pleasant monochrome of contemporary decor as minimalism loses its original avant-garde sensibilities. As humans are bombarded with more and more stimulation to excite the senses through technology and consumer culture meant to capture attention share, it makes sense that art follows suit. In this show we exhibit works by six artists who, while wildly different, all convey a sense of fantastical maximalism in their work, each using opulent imagery but with very different explorations of the theme.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you’d like additional images, close up images, or a video walk around of a piece!

Lauren Marx  intricate and lush watercolor and ink works explore the concept of the physical brutality of decay mixed with transcendental explorations of spirituality. Her hyper detailed and beautifully grotesque work is informed by medical illustration, medieval marginalia, and natural history illustration.

Lauren Marx Heavenly Unicorn - Watercolor, Pen, Ink, Colored Pencil, and Gel Pen on Hot-pressed Watercolor Paper. 26” x 38”
$7,500

Lauren Marx Heavenly Cherubs (Right) - Watercolor, Pen, Ink, Colored Pencil, and Gel Pen. 12” x 18”
$1,600

Lauren Marx Heavenly Cherubs (Left) - Watercolor, Pen, Ink, Colored Pencil, and Gel Pen. 12” x 18”
$1,600

Hunter Saxony III presents a new series of his trademark ornamental calligraphy titled “This Is The Last Place We Put Our Dreams”. Inspired by Ghanaian funerary vessels of the Akan, these images poignantly reference these pottery vessels and the decoration that changes on the status of the deceased they are created for. Saxony’s art is known infusing the forgotten 19th century art form of hand drawn calligraphy with meaning far beyond the merely ornamental, creating works that reference the gilded past but are also modern in their messaging. 

Hunter Saxony III Vessel I - Ink on Pergamenata . 16.5 x 19”
$1,200

Hunter Saxony III Vessel II - Ink on Pergamenata . 16.5 x 19”
$1,600

Hunter Saxony III Vessel III - Ink on Pergamenata. 23.25 x 18”
$2,000

Jason Puccinelli is inspired by the use of AI and its ability to mimic but not understand things. His large scale oil painting “Origin of Species” is a pun on the concept of stochastic parroting. While this painting/imagery is NOT AI generated, Puccinelli started to think how AI might interpret an Audubon painting of a new species and allowed it to inform a dive by the artist into a lush surrealism, influenced by the pervasive specter of modern technology.

Jason Puccinelli Origin of Species Oil on panel 6’x4’
SOLD

Electric Coffin exhibits a large scale sculpture of one of their iconic Unio series images, a horse carrying old school televisions on its back. Electric Coffin blend the spirituality of the natural world using animals as totems for particular concepts, with the jingoistic language of consumer culture. In this case, the hard machinery is juxtaposed with artistically placed, almost ritualistic organic rope patterns that cover the horse, causing a contemplation on where attention should be in this modern age and the price our choices pay. This piece includes electronic components within the horse body and plays a 6 hour loop of children’s toy ad from the 90’s on the lower TV and a loop of digitally created clouds on the upper. It plugs in with one cable.

Electric Coffin Cloud Cover Fiberglass, rope, rear-projection TVs, wood plinth, & dream happiness 79" x 60" x 48"
$26,000

Jeff Jacobson explores the exuberance of a sci fi sense of spirituality and wonder while also rooting it in the natural world. His incredible and highly detailed spray painted canvases often reference portals of existence and aspirations of higher levels of consciousness. For this show he exhibits a giant canvas he created while on a Roq La Rue residency in Longview Washington. 

Jeff Jacobson Radiant Ox Spray paint 4’x12’
$10,000

Bryan Kachel makes his gallery debut with three beautiful new works informed by his history as a tattoo artist- yet pushed past that in meticulous watercolor tableaus that explore the thin lines between life and death, and how death serves a purpose in the continuation of life.

Bryan Kachel Cycle of Reciprocity Watercolor on paper 17”x14”
$1,600

Bryan Kachel Predators Paradox  Watercolor on paper 15” x 23”  
$2,300

Bryan Kachel Anatomy of Experience Watercolor on paper 25” x 15”  
SOLD