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Go See This: Temporary & Edgy Art Gallery in Beverly Hills Gets a Little Naughty
NSFW Warning: the photos in this post are of an explicit nature. Although it may appear safe, a careful look will expose much, much more.
From afar, Jonathan Yeo's portraits and nudes look like fragmented acrylic paintings. The style is strong and beautiful in its own way and the works stand out just like that. There's more to this, however -- lots more. The phrase double entendre only begins to describe it.
Take a few steps closer. No, no, a few more. Okay, just go ahead and stand one foot away. You see it now? Ohhhhhhhhh... yeah. These aren't paintings, per se, these are collages made from magazine clippings. More specifically, lots of pornography ones.
UK-based Yeo, the son of former Conservative minister Tim Yeo, is widely known for his traditional portraits, dripping with exquisite detail. They are often shown -- ones like Nicole Kidman, Tony Blair, Prince Philip, Rupert Murdoch, and Minnie Driver -- in the National Portrait Gallery in London. But he also has a more devious side to him.
That side came out in the media spotlight a couple years ago when the Bush Library in America backed out of a commission he was to do of President George Bush. Yeo still did the portrait, but instead of the traditional kind, he did the naughty version, sparking some controversy.
Although Yeo has works up in the exclusive Soho House in West Hollywood, his first solo exhibition in the U.S. just opened last night in Beverly Hills at David Lazarides' gallery. It runs through August 8. The gallery is open 12 to 8 p.m. daily and is located at 320 North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills.
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