Mark your calendars! August 14th is gonna be killer! Tara McPherson and The Cotton Candy Machine are Poppin’ Up in Albuquerque, New Mexico at Stranger Factory! Swing by to meet Tara. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to shop her traveling selection of goods and merch including rare prints, art toys, books and more!
Stranger Factory Gallery
presents
New Best Friends
Group exhibition of new work in Main Gallery
July 6th – July 29th, 2018
Opening reception, June 1, 6-9 pm
Stranger Factory is proud to present NEW BEST FRIENDS, a group show curated by our very own local artist, Karl Deuble!
Karl is a screen printer and musician living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico in 2006. He grew up in Belen, NM before moving to Albuquerque to pursue his Fine Arts degree. Inspired by street art, cartoons, music, and cats, Karl uses screen printing, spray paint, acrylic and ink to create his style of characters.
As his first curated show at Stranger Factory, NEW BEST FRIENDS brings new and returning artists who inspire Karl and his vision. This show brings a fun flavor to Stranger Factory as it invokes bright colors and imagery inspired by 80’s cartoons, music and street art. Join us as we tour fun graphics and playful illustrations!
Over ten artists inlcude: Karl Dueble, Patt Kelley, Elena Cabitza, Santos Shelton, Bruce Parker, Thom Glick, Helen Li, Christa Dippel, J.W. Butts, Madelen Foss, and Chuck Chair.
Stranger Factory presents two new exhibitions in June: TOY MAKERS OF PLANET EARTH II, and Ken Keirns’ ALREADY YESTERDAY
Toy Makers of Planet Earth II
Group exhibition of new work in Main Gallery
June 1 – July 1, 2018
Opening reception, June 1, 6-9 pm
Circus Posterus and Stranger Factory are proud to present our upcoming toy art group exhibition, “Toy Makers of Planet Earth” opening this June. This invitational art exhibition will feature top independent contemporary toy artists, narrative artists inspired by toys, character makers, and independent toy companies from all over the world under one roof at Stranger Factory Gallery.
Over 2 dozen artists include: Brandt Peters, Kathie Olivas, Aya Kakeda, Cassia Harries, Art Toy Maison, El Dodo Albino, Eric Althin, Junker Jane, Katy Bos, Mark Nagata, Mizna Wada, “Mudmonkey” Simon Boses, Scott Radke, Silk & Thistle, Steve Ferrera, Sumrow, Leslie Levings, Jermaine Rogers, Javier Jimenez, Josh Herbolsheimer, Pantovola, Amber Phillips, Weston Brownlee, droolwool, Bob Doucette, Kristina Drake
Already Yesterday
A solo exhibition of new works by Ken Kierns
June 1- July 1, 2018
Opening reception, June 1, 6-9 pm
Ken Keirns is a Midwestern oil painter. After spending the last decade living in Chicago and California,he recently settled in Colorado where he paints full time and looks forward to the winter. While his primary medium is oil, he also enjoys creating sculptures and mixed-media pieces. His subject matter includes female portraiture and anthropomorphic creatures interlaced with personal experiences, dreams, and the occasional bad pun. Ken’s formal education is in graphic design and, while he has taken a few formal painting classes, is mostly self-taught. Ken’s artwork has been acquired by collectors across the U.S., Europe and Asia, and has been featured in publications including Spectrum, Catapult, and Hi-Fructose.
Both exhibitions run JUNE 1 – July 1, 2018
Opening reception, June 1, 6-9 pm
Bai Lan the Unyielding by Otto Bjornik
Stranger Factory edition
Size: 5″ tall
Medium: Painted resin
Edition: 30
Comes boxed with Certificate of Authenticity (signed and numbered)
Releasing at Stranger Factory gallery and online at www.circusposterus.com
Bai Chu’s army has infiltrated and overwhelmed the land. Despite his small stature, he remains a brilliant strategist and commander, and he has created an unstoppable force. The people live in fear, wondering when they will hear the ominous sounds of marching boots and clanking armor. Day after day, reports come of Bai Chu’s forces descending upon their unsuspecting villages, draining fruits dry and wreaking havoc among their communities.
Upon hearing this distressing news, Bai Lan, the normally docile priestess and shaman, has decided to venture out of her temple to stop Bai Chu. Bai Chu and Bai Lan were once childhood sweethearts, and she knew him before he became a power-hungry general, before he ran into the vengeful Diwata who gave him his current diminutive form.
A scholarly pacifist, Bai Lan believes in balance and harmony as taught in her temple. She communes with the spirits and with Mother Nature to sense disturbances in Her equilibrium.
Bai Lan, gifted with a sharp intellect and a keen sense of intuition, is an excellent tracker. Her years of study and research make her a naturally skilled investigator. Day by day she makes her way closer to Bai Chu, tracking his movements, figuring out his next move. Upon finding a ravaged field whose crop of blood oranges have been turned into withered husks, Bai Lan picks one up and devises a plan.
When they finally meet, will Bai Chu recognize his childhood sweetheart? Or will he see his worst enemy yet?
Sandi Ray Pierce, FOREVER, NEVERMORE / Otto Bjornik, FLORA & FAUNA / Jellykoe, I’M YOUR WEIRD FRIEND will run from
May 4th – 27th, 2018
Opening Reception: Friday, May 4th from 6-9 PM
In her first solo exhibition at Stranger Factory, local artist Sandi Ray Pierce will be featuring a series of her iconic pen and ink and mixed media works on paper. As a self taught artist, she is heavily inspired by the local lowbrow culture of tattoo graphics, Dia De Los Muertos, and the rich typography and visuals of historic Route 66. Pierce contrasts themes of death and rebirth with the fleeting beauty of youth. She incorporates vintage floral art nouveau and graphics reminiscent of old rock and roll gig posters. Her love of the southwest and attention to detail in her meticulous cross hatching and stippling creates a nostalgic interpretation of life and death in the land of enchantment.
Artist and toy designer Otto Bjornik will be exhibiting a new series of hand-made toys and graphite drawings. His clean, minimalist style celebrates the curiosity of youth with a rich narrative that integrates his love of design and human connection through its many cultures and the unifying emotional states we all share.
“The Pen is Mightier than the Sword”
I am more than an illustrator. I am a storyteller. My tales are a rich mixture of precious childhood memories and fairy tales. I weave together lines to celebrate the beauty and elegance of nature and human form. And sprinkled within that tapestry are touches of whimsy that bring to mind the wonderment of childhood and play. It is my way of rekindling youth with a wink and infinite mirth.
An architect by training, I create works in pen and ink that are filled with intricate detail and influenced by stringent rules of design. The elements I choose often hold symbolic meaning, and I take care to piece them together like a jigsaw puzzle to tell an overall story.”
Artist couple Jellykoe will be exhibiting new mixed media works sure to be a nutritious blend of cute and creepy. The pair is known for wide eyed, blank stared children and creatures alike often in the forms of plush or 3-d cutouts. Their work is humorous, often drawn or encapsulated in a somewhat dark, kawaii style that makes you want to relive or perhaps re-evaluate your childhood.
Jellykoe is a designer toy company located in the heart of Columbia, SC. It was founded in 2009 by husband and wife duo Kelly and J. Spencer Shull. Spencer acts as lead product designer and illustrator for Jellykoe while Kelly is in charge of production, design, and marketing.
All three exhibitions are free and open to the public.
Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049
APRIL 2018
CARNIVAL OF LOST DOLLS II / Jen Musatto, MEMENTO VIVERE / Fearsome Beast (aka Katherine Walsh), and REALM / Calan Ree
will run from
April 6th – 29th, 2018
Opening Reception: Friday, April 6th from 6-9 PM
Jen Musatto creates “Them Dollz”, a line of handcrafted plush dolls that evoke a sometimes melancholy and gloomy image of the fleeting nature of childhood where innocence and the longing for companionship take a most unusual form.
Her “rag doll” figures are nostalgic and reminiscent of the sewn faces of characters from her childhood like Raggedy Ann.
In her first solo feature at the gallery, Los Angeles based embroidery artist Fearsome Beast (aka Katherine Walsh) will be exhibiting her highly detailed embroidered works on fabric panels. Her small, framed two dimensional works are reminiscent of traditional embroidery with a dark spin.
Her obsession with tiny skulls and crowns obscures the narrative of a historically “feminine” craft.
Calan Ree creates contemporary ceramic and mixed media figurative sculpture. Clay is her first true love, so even when working in bone or metal, there is more often than not, ceramic binding the elements together. She finds the natural world just as intriguing as the folk lore that tries to explain it.
Her work is figurative in nature and often expresses the hidden spirit that resides within the subject.
Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049
The legend Paul Kaiju returns to Stranger Factory for a one-night only event not to be missed!
If you know anything about Paul’s shows, then you know this will be packed full of amazing creatures that are brilliantly painted along with a shoulder to shoulder crowd of fans.
See you at the gallery Saturday March 17th at 6pm!
Brandt Peters and Kathie Olivas are heading to San Francisco for a pop-up event filled with fun and art at the much loved Woot Bear.This two person exhibition titled “Future’s Past” showcases some classic styles, themes, and media we haven’t seen from the duo in over a decade combined with their new cherished contemporary methods and beyond.
Opening night reception begins February 17th from 6-9pm.
Sales begin when the show opens with online sales TBD.
Woot Bear
1512 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
David Santiago solo exhibition “KNOTTY” this February
Stranger factory is pleased to announce local artist David Santiago’s second solo exhibition at the gallery titled Knotty. “My focus was on creating a three-dimensional thickness to my work, creating tangles through many layers of hair that blanket the subject from the viewer.”
Santiago’s artwork explores a fascination with body language; focusing on creating people with very subtle expressions, as though they are hiding a secret. Looking into a straight face creates an uncertainty inside of you, a feeling you want to resolve.
David Santiago will be in attendance on February 2, from 6-9pm.
The exhibition will run through February 25.
Knotty will run from
February 2nd – 25th, 2018
Opening Reception: Friday, February 2nd from 6-9 PM
Artist will be in attendance for reception.
This event is free and open to the public.
Stranger Factory
3411 Central Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-508-3049
Stranger factory is so pleased to announce our Made in New Mexico II ‘local’ group exhibition in January!
Stranger Factory gallery will host the 2nd annual exhibition of new works featuring a diverse group of artists from the land of enchantment. “Made in New Mexico” will feature local artists from throughout the state. Many of the artists are expected to attend the opening reception on January 12, from 6-9pm.
The exhibition will run through January 28.
Featuring the works of: Katy Bos, Karl Deuble, Isaac Pierro, Johnpaul Gutierrez, Kathie Olivas, John Sumrow, Stephan Webb, Beth Spencer, Joel Nakamura, David Santiago, Travis Bruce Black, René Palomares, Max Lehman, Sandi Ray Pierce, Brandt Peters and more!
