Exhibitions & Events

Now Showing:Vanessa Ramirez’ “Reclusively Yours”

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Vanessa Ramirez’ Reclusively Yours

Vanessa Ramirez: Reclusively Yours is a reflection on isolation and the passage of time in the life of solitary monsters. Whether talking to an invisible friend, learning new skills, or indulging in activities like no one is watching (because no one is). These monster find the good and bad in time spent alone.
See all the work now here

Now Showing at Stranger Factory: Exchanging Eyes

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Greetings from Stranger Factory!
We’re proud to present our latest exhibition in our new gallery space in Algodones, NM.
Exchanging Eyes: An ongoing, semi-permanent installation of  works inspired by late 18th Century Lover’s Eye Miniature Paintings. In the spirit of “Exchanging Eyes” this group exhibition of small works presents each artists’ interpretation of the once popular tradition. New multi-media works by Valerie Savarie, Agafia, Katherine Walsh/ Fearsome Beast, Danita Art, Ally Burke, Aunia Kahn, Kathie Olivas, Mario Romero, Maya Detmold, and Nora Thompson


See all the work now here

**Save the Date: Open House with the artists, Saturday August 21st, 4-7pm, with new exhibitions by Tripper Dungan, and our Annual “Toymakers of Planet Earth” Group Exhibition. Tripper will be in attendance; come say hello! ( We will be postponing our David Santiago exhibition until we all feel a little more comfortable having a big social event).

Now open Weekends 11 – 4 p.m., additional hours by appointment. Please contact the gallery if you would like to make an appointment or discuss a payment plan at strangerfactorysales@gmail.com

*We are still requiring masks and social distancing.

Now Showing “Parables” by Erich Moffitt & “Re-animator: Stranger Factory 10th Anniversary” Exhibitions

NOW SHOWING

“Parables” by Erich Moffitt
&
“Re-animator: Stranger Factory 10th Anniversary” Exhibitions

Erich Moffitt These paintings grew out of a year of relearning what mattered to me in the work I do and in how I live my life. Looking beyond art as an escape from hardship led me back to what I had originally wanted to say with pictures: the earnest pursuit of connection with others in a statement of meaningful care. 

 Animal people journey through the wilderness, alone and together, towards a common end. They carry their burdens, through suffering and persistence. Unlike the animals of fables, their agency is relatable to us. Unlike other people, whom we so often define ourselves in contrast towards, these characters can be anyone. Their communion describes the survival instincts of human nature that transcend destructive appetites: recognizing ourselves in others, and belonging.

Erich J. Moffitt began his life as an artist during his childhood, while living as an expatriate in rural Austria. At an early age, the stories of folklore, myth, and fable, as depicted in academic and symbolist painting and the Golden Age of Illustration, introduced him to a wealth of multicultural influences and firmly established art as a means of broadening horizons. In his paintings, he fuses the rich aesthetic tapestry of the past with contemporary humanist philosophy, in narratives played out by totemic character archetypes and their world of talismanic objects.

Trained as an illustrator and exhibiting artist, his work has been shown in galleries across the United States, Europe, and Australia. In addition to art, Erich has also pursued a simultaneous career in custom jewelry design, putting his skills in the service of capturing his clients’ unique visions to celebrate their milestones in life. He currently lives and works near Seattle, WA, and shares a home with his spouse in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

RE-ANIMATOR: Stranger Factory 10th Anniversary A little over 10 years ago our first official exhibition as Stranger Factory, Modern Vintage Narrative, explored the optimism of rebuilding a new world post great recession; 10 years later our futures are still uncertain. We asked artists to explore the past ten years and reflect on the pop culture zeitgeist. As visionary artists, we encouraged them to give us a new narrative. Our current 10 year anniversary exhibition “Re-animator” features the work of a cross section of contemporary narrative as they begin to explore what’s next.

See all the work online HERE

***We will be shipping both of these exhibitions at the end of June. Please contact the gallery if you need your shipment sooner.
 
Please contact us directly by email at strangerfactorysales@gmail.com if you would like to discuss a payment plan. Thank you!

 

In person viewings for “New Works 2021” by Phil Noto // “Phantasmenagerie” by Brandt Peters

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Greetings from Stranger Factory!
We’re proud to present two new exhibitions in our new gallery space in Algodones, NM. 
 
We will begin in person appointments starting next weekend, March 20& 21, please contact the gallery in you would like to make an appointment at strangerfactorysales@gmail.com
Starting March 27, we will be scheduling regular gallery hours Saturday and Sunday, 10-5pm.
*We require masks and social distancing and ask to limit families/ groups to 4.
 
 
Brandt Peters- Phantsmenagerie
 
Pop Surrealist painter and contemporary toy maker, Brandt Peters, presents a collection of new multi-media works born of a year of isolation, reflection, and wonder. Dozens of odd characters inspired by the parallel storylines of depression era animated characters combined with the growing  anxiety of an uncertain future in an uncertain world. He combines vintage found objects with timeless avatars into hand made “toys” and assemblages that tell stories of resilience and optimism. 
Brandt Peters emerged from the entertainment industry into an internationally recognized and accomplished fine artist, designer, and producer. Often known for his award winning toy designs, Peters is also a mixed media painter and story-teller who centers his work on character design and visual development. His work hearkens back to the earliest days of comics and animation, with a seeming simplicity that hides layers of intricate back story rooted in humor and a strong, empowering narrative voice. He is one of original founders of Circus Posterus and Stranger Factory gallery and pre-pandemic, worked as an Art Director for Meow Wolf.

Phil Noto- Phil Noto New works 2021

Contemporary narrative artist, Phil Noto, presents new acrylic paintings of his favorite subject matter, the female muse. Strong, confident  faces encouraging the viewer to enjoy life’s pleasures in bold, striking colors and minimalist text that serve as mysterious mantras and secrets soon to be revealed.

Phil Noto is an Eisner nominated American painter, comic book/ concept artist who is known for his work on such titles as Black WidowJonah HexUncanny X-Force,and most recently Star Wars (Chewbacca and Shattered Empire). After a 10 year career at Disney Feature Animation, he started to work full-time as an artist for Marvel, DC, Image Comics and Dark Horse, and as well, time in gaming working on such blockbuster hits such as Bioshock. Phil Noto has been a prominent featured artist at Stranger Factory since its opening in 2011.

October shows and releases

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Now Showing:
Bewitching X, Johnpaul Gutierrez, Defective Pudding, & Lana Crooks.

Bewitching X, Stranger Factory’s 10th Annual Fall Group Exhibition
features works by Genevieve Greer, Anna Tillett, Ally Burke, Jeremy
Cross, Amy Earles, Fika Art, Vannesa Ramirez, Defective Pudding,
Kaitlin Zeismer, Stephanie Eichelberger, Caitlin McCarthy, Kathie
Olivas, & Brandt Peters.

Artists are invited to find inspiration in the season of Halloween.
To tricks, treats, ghouls, and of course, witches.
Brandt Peters Astrobats!
*Limited to one per household

Brandt, “Apparently I broke the internet by uploading my hand painted
vinyl sofubi for Bewitching X…it crashed our site. So this is what
we’re going to do…”

If you would like to be considered for random lottery drawing to
purchase a piece, please send your email and contact info to
strangerfactorysales@gmail.com from NOW until 12 noon PST Monday, the
4th.

A number will be assigned to your email and you will be emailed should
your number be drawn. We will contact you with further instructions
from there. Thank you all who were looking forward to your very own
Astrobat, we apologize for the difficulties earlier today. -Stranger
Factory Team

Dark Playgrounds by Johnpaul Gutierrez

Gutierrez developed the theme of Dark Playgrounds in response to the
growing uncertainty of our children’s future. Having two young
children himself has caused him to reflect on the upcoming
difficulties of navigating the rapidly, changing world. Witnessing the
constant chaos and unrest in the news as well as social media, has
created a nervous agitation about humanity’s immediate future and more
so for our littlest and most vulnerable humans. The need to express
this concern became prominent as playgrounds and schools were shut
down due to the pandemic.

Gutierrez creates a swirling mashup of slides, skulls, and symbolic
creatures emerging from the eyes and mouths of colorful faces. The
characters are the hidden voices that are constantly trying to dictate
a response; these monsters emerge yelling and suspicious while
inhabiting this dark playground.

Dark Playgrounds was created using acrylic paint, watercolor, and the
artist’s favorite medium, pen and pencil.

Bystander in My Tale of Luck by Defective Pudding

Self-taught illustrator and visual artist, Christa Dippel, works under
the artist name Defective Pudding. Her works are primarily created in
color pencil and graphite. Her pieces take on a nostalgic, sweet
appearance while also exploring melancholy subjects. She draws most of
her inspiration from vintage media, toys, and clothes, as well as
wildlife and nature.

Bystander in My Tale of Luck explores the daily experience of anxiety,
mental exhaustion, and a wide range of emotions that mute any attempt
at productivity. Defective Pudding puts emphasis on the emotions in
her creations by utilizing the artist’s feelings towards one’s daily
life. The feeling of an inexperienced gambler each morning, waking up
with no clue what to expect, and the feeling of losing more often than
not. Hope you enjoy this tale of luck.

Portland based artist, Lana Crooks will be having an ongoing solo
exhibition, Found Lost. Unlike other shows, this one is released as
small collections throughout the rest of the year. The next phase of
this series is coming soon.

See the entire show here
We will be rescheduling our upcoming exhibitions; check our website for updates!

Brandt Peters & Phil Noto coming this November! This will be a preview
show for a larger upcoming exhibit in February!

NOW SHOWING: Allison Bamcat, Stephani Inagaki, and Mario Romero

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Stranger Factory…has moved. Unfortunately we were unable to work out new terms at the end of our lease and are currently getting settled in our new location in Algodones, NM (We are directly between Albuquerque and Santa Fe). We are not currently open for scheduled hours, but will begin private appointments and curbside pick-up in the next week or so.

 

 

 We are very excited for our three newest exhibitions that are now online:

Allison Bamcat

Eat The Elephant

“Eat the Elephant is a body of work by surrealist painter Allison Bamcat taking the presence of personal demons and having the courage to fight them. Through the use of vivid, nostalgic colorscapes that harkens back to childhood toys of the 90s, she depicts a selection of mythical creatures from the Encyclopedia of Demonology, each monster a symbol of heavy topics including anorexia, childhood trauma, nightmares, and cult religion. Bamcat is vocal in her support of mental wellness through therapy and self-reflection, and she hopes the viewer can look into what these monsters may symbolize in their own journeys, keeping in mind the secret to healing is gradual and never-ending: “To eat the elephant, one bite at a time.”

Allison Bamcat is a color-obsessed painter living in Los Angeles. Through her use of texture, expression, and vivid color, she seeks to invoke feelings of nostalgia, magic, intensity, and gravity. The creatures, props and plants in her paintings serve as avatars for her personal journey. Bamcat works in Acryla gouache with a secondary concentration in large-scale murals and budding love for ceramics.

Stephanie Inagaki

Samsara and the Birth of the Wild Woman

 

“The last couple years have been a period of deep introspection, colored by grief and learning self-love through creating healthy boundaries. And while the whole world is in a chaotic, unknowing state, much self-examination is happening on a collective level. Within that, my contemplation has evolved into learning self respect. My life has had poignant moments of death, both physical and metaphorical, but through each of these experiences I’ve found new life, happiness, and growth.”

 

Stephanie Inagaki is a Los Angeles based artist whose work explores her personalized interpretations of Japanese mythology and folklore, corvids, familiars, the life/death/life cycle (Samsara), and a joyful splash of humor.

 

Mario Romero

Pull Me Under

“Every memory and dream we have is ultimately obscured. We can recall specific details of a dream and yet we tend to forget the reason behind it all. What was that dream about? What did that dream mean? Dreams, much like vast oceans, pull us deep into depths of the unknown. Sinking into the unknown, we forget time, place, feelings, and thoughts we once had. Captured by watercolor, parts of these fleeting dreams are found. Sometimes, all we have is that one detail, that one feeling to hold onto. This idea of holding onto something that can’t truly be detained is what inspires these deep ocean paintings.”

 

Mario Romero is an emerging New Mexico based artist that primarily uses watercolor to capture his surreal portraits and floating still lifes.

View all work online now at http://www.circusposterus.com/product-category/current-exhibition/

Now Showing! Invisible Monsters by Mike Egan

Stranger Factory is pleased to announce:

Invisible Monsters, a new solo exhibition by contemporary painter, Mike Egan.
Available NOW for online purchase!

Mike Egan is known for works that explore life and death and the thin veil between the two, expressed in bold lines and color. His new body of work, produced while under self-quarantine, is an exquisite survey and summary of the human condition during these Pandemic Times.
Egan received a degree in Fine Art from Edinboro University and his work is influenced by his educational emphasis on block printing, early appreciation of traditional and prison-style tattoo design, and later experience as a funeral director.
Invisible Monsters and Midnight: Summer Encore are currently on display and available for individual or small group viewings, by appointment only.

You can view  and purchase the entire show online here.

Midnight with David Santiago this March at Stranger Factory

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March 2020 at Stranger Factory

Midnight with David Santiago
Opening Reception (artist will be in attendance):
Friday, March 6th from 6-8 PM

Solo Exhibition on display March 6 – 29th, 2020
David Santiago is a local figurative artist, known for his large scale work consisting of beautifully layered abstract portraits that contrast graphic lines with boldly structured shapes against soft feminine skin tones, often echoed in wood grains.

March will bring MIdnight, David Santiago’s third solo show at Stranger Factory.

For the artist, this show is a way to revisit the high contrast, black and white style that David first fell in love with when experimenting with charcoal.

His latest pieces, debuting March 6th, force one to get up close and personal with each figure. These dark pieces present an intimate opportunity to seek out the details in someone’s face, as if at night, by the shimmer of moonlight..

We are expecting approximately 15-20 original pieces for Midnight.

Nico Salazar, Sugar Fueled, and New Best Friends II this Feb at Stranger Factory Gallery

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Three news shows this FEBRUARY at Stranger Factory

Nico Salazar: Chicas – solo exhibition

Sugar Fueled: Apurritions – solo exhibition

New Best Friends II – group exhibition

Opening Reception (some artists will be in attendance):
Friday, February 7th from 6-8 PM

Exhibitions on display February 7th – March 1st, 2020

Nico Salazar: Chicas

Nico Salazar of Future Fantasy Delight is an illustrator, muralist, and designer from Santa Fe, NM known for his blend of cute & dangerous imagery, influenced by comics, graffiti art, manga, street culture, and 90s nostalgia. Nico received his BFA in Painting from the Institute of American Indian Arts in 2014

With Chicas we can expect new works from Nico, including screenprints and original paintings showcasing the strength, power, and beauty of the feminine and femme!

Sugar Fueled: Apurritions

The Sugar Fueled world created by Michael Banks is known for big, bright-eyed animals and Stranger Factory is stoked to present his new body of work.

Michael, along with his wife and manager Sarah Banks, run Sugar Fueled clothing based on his character design and his trademark broken star that represents perseverance, set with the goal of making the world a sweeter and happier place.

“Apurritions” will feature 13 original paintings of ghost kittens engaging in spirit communication, reminiscent of old séance invitations, as well as custom spirit boards, planchettes, and pendulums!

New Best Friends II – Group Show

Local artist, screen printer, and musician Karl Deuble did it again and Stranger Factory is proud to present his second curated group show NEW BEST FRIENDS II!

Karl grew up in Belen, NM before moving to Albuquerque to pursue his BFA from the University of New Mexico, which he received in 2006. Inspired by street art, cartoons, music, and cats, Karl uses screen printing, spray paint, acrylic and ink to create his style of characters.

With NEW BEST FRIENDS II, Karl introduces Stranger Factory fans to artists who inspire his work and his vision and make the world a brighter place. This show is sure to be fun-packed and full of colorful character design and juicy illustration!

This year’s participating artists include: Debbies Grahl, Deth P. Sun, Ego, John Van Horn, Karl Deuble, Matt Sinclair, Nekoes, Steve Ehret, and Tripper Dungan

***ALL STRANGER FACTORY EXHIBITIONS
ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***