Opening Reception: Friday, October 6, 6-8pm

Presented at UTA Artist Space, Beverly Hills
403 Foothill Rd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
10 a.m.– 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturdays

(Beverly Hills, CA – September 26, 2023) UTA Artist Space presents the group exhibition Elsewheres, curated by Zuzanna Ciolek, Director of UTA Artist Space, Beverly Hills. In Elsewheres, artists have been invited to create new realities through alternate views of the past, present and future. Politics, sexuality, religion and race are explored through the varying perspectives and worldviews of the 17 exhibiting artists whose work variably examines art historical tropes, science fiction, Afro-futurist traditions and cultural systems. These often physiologically charged works defy and deconstruct traditional histories, creating new aesthetic narratives and abstract mythologies. 

Artists such as Alex Anderson use the delicate medium of ceramics as a vehicle to explore the intersections of sublime experiences that make up both the man-made and natural worlds. Chinaza Agbor uses figurative painting to reflect the ongoing struggle to formally communicate a muti-identity experience – connecting with her Nigerian heritage while exploring her existence and upbringing in the American South. April Bey, positioned within the Afro-futurist tradition, works with a fictional universe called ‘Atlantica,’ inspired by the alien stories her father used to tell her as a child to explain racial oppression. Paintings by writer and artist Sedrick Chisom ground apocalyptic narratives of white supremacy, Christianity, and climate change in romantic landscapes, underscoring his concerns with climate change and right-wing assaults on science.

Dainey Chin captures mythological beasts and fertility goddesses in her mystical paintings, including a piece inspired by Elisabetta Sirani representing duality and another depicting a protective spell jar for the wilderness deity Pan. Conceptual artist Ryan Cosbert invites viewers to see things from an internal and external perspective, igniting conversations while encouraging higher consciousness. Sarah Issakharian similarly focuses on the emotional status of her subjects – immigrants and refugees – conveying their stories and the environments in which they envision themselves. Nate Lewis explores history through patterns, textures and rhythm, creating meditations of celebrations and lamentations.

Informed by his upbringing in Haiti and his experience emigrating to Montréal at the age of 19, the paintings of Manuel Mathieu investigate themes of historical violence, erasure, and cultural approaches to physicality, nature, and spiritual legacy, while Sophia Narrett turns to embroidered canvases that weave together narratives of sexuality and desire. Rose Nestler’s wall-bound sculptures with traditionally femme signifiers–flowers, broomsticks, high-heeled shoes, soft body parts, and ruffled skirts–are freighted with personal and cultural allusions to the artist’s rich material language, prompting one to wonder why we are so quick to dismiss popular culture when it lies within women’s realms. Paulina Stasik’s paintings depict surrealist figures that float between the real and symbolic world, between life and timelessness, sleep and silence.

Drawing on a range of influences, from Christian iconography to gay pornography, Krzysztof Strzelecki creates his own world through various media where his subjects inhabit their environments freely. Daisy Parris paints psychologically and emotionally charged spaces using the vocabulary of abstraction, with Astrid Terrazas’ visual language merging dreamscapes, Mexican ancestral folklore, lived experiences, and unearthly transfigurations. Lien Truong blends techniques to create hybrid art forms that interrogate the relationship between aesthetics and doctrine, while Lian Zhang assembles constellations of images through which a series network of fractured narratives emerge.

“This exhibition brings together such an extensive group of artists from across the world. While all incorporate different media and approaches to their work, they are all drawn together through their ability to generate alternative perspectives. They each take their own lived experiences and make us look at the world differently. They take us elsewhere – which is the guiding curatorial motivation behind the show. I can’t wait to see how each artist’s work speaks to one another, and introduce so many exciting new names to Los Angeles,” said Zuzanna Ciolek, curator and Director of UTA Artist Space, Beverly Hills.

A complete list of exhibiting artists includes: Alex Anderson; Chinaza Agbor; April Bey; Daieny Chin; Sedrick Chisom; Ryan Cosbert; Sara Issakharian; Nate Lewis; Manuel Matthieu; Sophia Narrett; Rose Nestler; Paulina Stasik; Krzysztof Strzelecki; Daisy Parris; Astrid Terrazas; Lien Truong; and Lian Zhang.

ABOUT ZUZANNA CIOLEK
Ciolek has curated exhibitions Beyond the Looking Glass (featuring artists Genevieve Gaignard, Kiki Smith, Gahee Park, and Jesse Mockrin amongst others), as well as Dark Fantasy (an exhibition of contemporary design artists co-curated with Ashlee Harrison and Natalie Kovacs). Recently, she helped sign to UTA for representation filmmaker and contemporary artist Shirin Neshat; visual artist and filmmaker Glenn Kaino; and artist-activist Titus Kaphar.

Prior to joining UTA Artist Space in 2016, Zuzanna worked at various art galleries and advisories in New York, Los Angeles, and London, including Lehmann Maupin, The Heller Group, and Lisson Gallery. Originally from Warsaw, Poland, Zuzanna holds a BA in the History of Art and Architecture from Brown University and an MA in Art Business from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art.

ABOUT UTA ARTIST SPACE
Since the establishment of its flagship Beverly Hills location in 2018, UTA Artist Space has been committed to showcasing art by globally recognized talent. With the opening of a new Atlanta office and gallery in spring 2023, UTA Artist Space has expanded its impressive vision and reach across the United States. Over the past few years, the gallery’s original location has presented notable exhibitions with interdisciplinary artists and creatives, including The Estate of Ernie Barnes, Enrique Martínez Celaya, Mandy El-Sayegh, Nicholas Kontaxis, Arcmanoro Niles, Ferrari Sheppard, and more. UTA presented a series of pop-up exhibitions at Atlanta’s historic Pullman Yards before inaugurating its permanent gallery space in March 2023 with a solo exhibition by Lonnie Holley. In September 2023, UTA presented its first pop-up exhibition at the High Line Nine in New York with portrait artist Devon Rodriguez. In October 2023, UTA will present its first satellite project outside the United States with Charlotte Colbert coinciding with Frieze London in October 2023.

UTA Artist Space, Atlanta is permanently located at 1401 Peachtree Street and is open from 10:00 am –5:00 pm Tuesday through Friday and 11:00 am – 4:00 pm on Saturday. UTA Artist Space, Beverly Hills, located at 403 Foothill Road, is open from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Tuesday through Friday and 11:00 am –4:00 pm on Saturday.

For more information, please visit:
UTAArtistSpace.com
@utaartistspace

ABOUT UNITED TALENT AGENCY
UTA (United Talent Agency) unites ideas, opportunities and talent. The company represents some of the world’s most iconic, barrier-breaking artists, creators and changemakers—from actors, athletes and musicians to writers, gamers and digital influencers. One of the most influential companies in global entertainment, UTA’s business spans talent representation, content production, as well as strategic advisory and marketing work with some of the world’s biggest brands. UTA is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, New York and London.

www.unitedtalent.com/
@utatalent

PRESS CONTACT
Mackenzie Berk
Sutton Communications
T: +1 212 202 3402
E: mackenzie@suttoncomms.com