Taylor Espinosa
Design Gallery & Curate Exhibition
ARTS 1305
Fall 2014
Final Curatorial Statement-Taylor Espinosa
The Off the Wall exhibition features three female street artists: Swoon (Caledonia Dance Curry),
Lady Aiko (Aiko Nakagawa) and Olek (Agata Oleksiak). Each artist showcases their own style and
personal take on street art in the New York City area.
Influenced by culture and her surrounding environment, Olek is a Polish-born artist whose works
include sculptures and crocheted installations—also known as “yarn-bombing.” Her work is all about
how she can bring life, energy and color to a space.
Swoon uses a combination of print and paper-cut-outs to create large mural/portraits as well as
large-scale installations. Her influences come from loved ones and community. She often creates
portraits of her family and friends as a way of human connection and experience. Swoon street pastings,
installed around dingy street corners, are often expressive, raw and reveal a story of the human
experience. She creates her works to inspire the community and add a sense of connection.
Lady Aiko, is a graffiti artist who also uses mixed media like screen printing and paint to create
her graphic works. She draws influence from American and Japanese pop culture. She takes on a more
feministic approach in which she tackles globalized depictions of female sexuality. Lady Aiko’s works are
often very colorful, playful and vibrant depictions of females within pop culture. She incorporates a lot
of Japanese Kawaii culture.
Street art has frequently been known as a male-conquered arena, but today we see many
women taking over the street art medium. Swoon, Lady Aiko and Olek are three women who are paving
the way for female street artists all over the world. Influenced by many unique elements, each are
taking their own personal spin on their works.
Although differing in creative intent, all artists are going above and beyond the typical graffiti
artist—the work they produce breaks all artistic barriers in unconventional ways, Off the Wall. With
street art, there is no set medium. Street artists can work on or with canvases, walls, doors or ground.
Swoon, Lady Aiko and Olek do share the fact that they are using art in a very public way to express their
message. On a technical aspect, they are using some of traditional mediums. For example, Swoon and
Lady Aiko use printmaking, stenciling and graphic depictions. While Olek adds vibrancy and color with
her woven installations in public spaces—her message can be revealed by “unravelling” the yarn.
These women are inspirational to other female street artists. All three artists are doing more
than just creating art. They are introducing their work into public spaces to make it a part of the world
around them. No canvas, paper, door or wall can constrain their artistic impact and expression that
exudes onto the world. Their art is Off the Wall.
Off The Wall Exhibition Wide Shot
Off The Wall Exhibition Frontal View
Off the Wall Exhibition Interior 1-Swoon
Off the Wall Exhibition Interior 2-Lady Aiko
Off The Wall Exhibition Interior 3-Olek
Off The Wall Exhibition Interior 4-Traffic Accent
Off The Wall Exhibition Interior 5-Swoon
Artist: “Olek” Agata Oleksiak
Title: Untitled
Media: Crocheted yarn
Date: August 2011
Olek’s Website: http://oleknyc.com
Artist: “Swoon” Caledonia Dance Curry
Title: Thalassa
Media: paper installation
Date: June 2011
Swoon’s Website: http://shop.swooninprint.com
Artist: “Lady Aiko” Aiko Nakagawa
Title: Bowery & Houston Mural Wall
Media: Spray paint
Lady Aiko’s Website: http://www.ladyaiko.com/news/
Bibliography
Olek’s Website:
http://oleknyc.com
Olek’s Yarn Bomb Bike, crochet, August 2011
http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/2011/10/23/images-of-the-week-10-2311/#.VGkvXWNDH5k
Olek’s Shopping Cart Installation, crochet, August 2011
http://arrestedmotion.com/2011/08/openings-olek-the-bad-artists-imitate-the-great-artist-stealjonathan-levine-gallery/
Olek’s Yarn Circles, crochet, August 2011
http://arrestedmotion.com/2011/08/openings-olek-the-bad-artists-imitate-the-great-artist-stealjonathan-levine-gallery/
Swoon’s “Zahara”, wood/fabric/cardboard/paper
http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/2009/11/10/interview-inside-the-the-thousands-andswoons-lock-box-with-michael-rj-rushmore/#.VGkkl2NDH5k
Swoon’s Website:
http://shop.swooninprint.com
Swoon’s “Thalassa”, paper installation
http://www.insidenola.org/2011/06/swoons-thalassa-at-noma.html
Swoon’s “Sambhavna”, screenprint/handpainting
http://www.brooklynstreetart.com/theblog/2011/02/09/black-rat-print-making-today-new-swoonprint-and-roa-installation/#.VGkxvmNDH5k
Lady Aiko’s Website:
http://www.ladyaiko.com/news/
Lady Aiko Subway Screenprint
http://subwayartblog.com/2011/12/03/miami-art-basel-2011-photos-from-underbellymiami/img_4201/
Lady Aiko’s Bowery & Houston Mural Wall
https://www.flickr.com/photos/laughingsquid/7650778464/