OakOak

This piece of original artwork comes ready to hang.

Opening Friday, June 30th at Detroit’s Inner State Gallery “LAX/DTW” will feature over 80 local and international artists curated by Los Angeles-based gallery Thinkspace. The massive group exhibition serves as introduction to the burgeoning New Contemporary art movement for art lovers in the Midwest, handpicked by one of the scene’s most prolific galleries.

“With roots firmly planted in illustration, pop culture, comics, street art and graffiti, put quite simply the New Contemporary Art Movement is art for the people,” Thinkspace co-founder Andrew Hosner said.

For the eleventh iteration of Thinkspace’s traveling group exhibitions, co-owners Andrew and Shawn Hosner hand picked Detroit to showcase one of their most ambitious collections to date. As part of the exhibition, the Hosners have also picked two featured artist, James Bullough for his unique cross cut portraits.

Since 2006, the urban outdoor is OAKOAK’s playground.

Born in the city of Saint-Etienne, France, he pastes his drawings everywhere he goes so as to bring smiles to passers-by where they least expect it. His approach consists of diverting urban elements, playing with mundane flaws, like a crack on a wall. He adds his own vision, his own references that often stem from the geek culture. His art is a means to poeticize the urban environment.

It is in 2012 at Lazarides’ The Outsider Gallery (Banksy, Invader) in Newcastle that OAKOAK’s first solo show took place. He also exhibited in France in the Lavo Matik (2016), the Cabinet d’Amateur (2015), both based in Paris, and Clemouchka Gallery (2015), based in Lyon. In October 2015 also took place his very first solo show in North-America, at the Vertical Gallery based in Chicago, Illinois.

OAKOAK collaborates with other street artists such as Fra Biancoshock (Italy), The Wa (Germany), Bulbe (France), Zabou (UK). He recently did some interventions all around the Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport business area.

His work has been published in two books, one at Edition populaire (2011) and the other at Editions Omaké (2014).

“French street artist OakOak is one of our all-time favorites, and we love a good update of his work. He is one of the best artists to take his surrounding world, which is most likely the streets of Saint Etienne, France, and turn them into his very own comic strip.” (Juxtapoz)

“OAKOAK transforms mundane objects using cleverly placed, humorous drawings. He has an eye for details that most ignore, and creates innovative scenes with his street art interventions.” (Street Art News)