Corey Helford Gallery Presents Akika Kurata (1/12-2/16)
Akika Kurata’s And It Will Be Winter
OPENING RECEPTION
January 12, 2019 | 7pm - 11pm
ON VIEW
January 12–February 16, 2019
“Melancholy” (acrylic gouache, Japanese ink on silk - 20.8” x 17.9”)
On Saturday, January 12, downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery will proudly present a solo exhibition, entitled And It Will Be Winter, featuring exceptional paintings from emerging Japanese talent Akika Kurata in Gallery 3.
Kurata crafts intimate, absorbing portraits of mostly female subjects. Using acrylic gouache, she creates works with both depth and tender, faded aspects that appear ghostly in nature. At the center of each portrait is an attempt to capture humanity. Her new show has the ability to transport the raw emotion within her subject’s eyes deep into a viewer’s heart
“Wolf” (acrylic gouache, Japanese ink on silk - 20.8” x 17.9”)
Regarding her new show, Kurata shares: “I feel this visit of winter in memories and clothes with someone. A green sweater of a person I loved and friends smoking cigarettes. I always didn’t mind about any season, and they just come. Being 26-years-old, I feel this is the first time that I notice the winter.
We live a life with a variety of feelings. We all want to feel happy and cheerful, while having fun. We want to believe in the bright side of life. In reality, we can’t avoid feeling sad, painful and unfortunate events, which can happen in our life. It is better we don’t face them. However, by accepting such emotions and experiences, I would rather find out unique beauties and dramas in them. By swallowing negative emotions, we may see something that is thrillingly enchanting which is hidden there. It should be something that is strong enough to stand by us, rather than offering plain encouragement.”
“Ordinary Girl” (acrylic gouache, Japanese ink on silk - 23.9 x 17.9 inches - 2017)
And It Will Be Winter opens on Saturday, January 12 from 7pm - 11pm in Gallery 3. The reception is open to the public and the exhibit will be on view through Saturday, February 16. The space is open Tuesday - Saturday, 12pm - 6pm. Corey Helford Gallery is located at 571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033.
About Akika Kurata:
Originally from Aichi in Japan, Akika Kurata received her Bachelor of Arts in Design from the Aichi University of the Arts before proceeding to earn her Master of Arts in Design, Painting and Decorate Studio from the Tokyo University of the Arts in 2018. The artist’s work has been shown across Japan, where she currently lives and works.
About Corey Helford Gallery:
Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) was first established in 2006 by Jan Corey Helford and her husband, television producer and creator, Bruce Helford (Anger Management, The Drew Carey Show, George Lopez, The Oblongs) and has since evolved into one of the premier galleries of New Contemporary art. Its goals as an institution are the support and growth of young and emerging, to well-known and internationally established artists, the production and promotion of their artwork, and the general production of their exhibits, events and projects.
CHG represents a diverse collection of international artists, primarily influenced by today’s pop culture and collectively encompassing style genres such as New Figurative Art, Pop Surrealism, Neo Pop, Graffiti and Street Art, and Post-Graffiti.
After nine years in Culver City, CHG relocated in December 2015 to a robust 12,000 square foot building in Downtown Los Angeles, where it continues to host exhibitions within the heart of the city’s art community. The current space boasts three separate galleries, each of which house individual artist and group exhibitions, whereas the main gallery offers 4,500 square feet, providing total immersion for its attendees. New exhibitions are presented approximately every five weeks. For more info and an upcoming exhibition schedule, visit CoreyHelfordGallery.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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