In 1994, a small group of artists and art collectors in San Francisco banded together to produce a magazine. Their goal was to bring the graffiti, street art, illustration, photography and the Kustom Kulture style of California to a much broader audience. The group building this magazine wanted nothing to do with convention, and in the 20 years Juxtapoz Magazine has been in circulation, unconventional artists have found been featured in the magazine’s pages.
Olek
Since it first launched, Juxtapoz has become one of the largest arts magazines in the United States. Known formally for its focus on Kustom Kulture, Juxtapoz shifted to feature more sub-genres of art, featuring prominent artists like KAWS, Mark Ryden, Barry McGee, Todd Shcorr, Banksy and Shepard Fairey well before they became global art superstars.
Artists featured include Swoon, Faile, Miss Van James Jean, Jeremy Fish, Ron English, Tara Mcpherson, and Todd James. The show also includes prominent street artists, who in just the past few years have gained superstar status, like Olek, Maya Hayuk, Jeff Soto, Josh Agle, and How & Nosm. The show is so massive, Mr. Levine could not keep it all in one space. Speaking about the magazine’s reputation the Chelsea curator said,
Juxtapoz has played an instrumental role in the development of the genre of work our gallery exhibits, contextualizing it within the spectrum of Contemporary Art. It gave a voice to the artists involved early on and continues to build upon that foundation, integrating the talent of new generations. The collective rise in popularity of this entire community has since achieved a level that not only infiltrates the more established and insular art market but also far surpasses it in fan following and recognition.
The massive two gallery show opens tonight in both Jonathan Levine locations:
529 West 20th Street, 9th floor and 557C West 23rd Street.
If you happen to have the older issues of Juxtapoz Magazine his mother threw out when he was 14, please contact the author @TatteredFedora
Ron English
