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A Hollywood art gallery will host never-before-seen artwork from L.A. painter and illustrator Tina St. Claire, who died in March. Tragedy withstanding, "Eternal" is to be viewed as a celebration of the artist's life.
Artist Tina "T Fail" St. Claire died on March 9 after battling cancer. She was just 31. She was a self-taught artist whose easily distinguishable work could be found throughout the city, sometimes on abandoned structures or alongside graffiti. According to Yay! LA, St. Claire displayed her work in over 100 gallery spaces throughout the U.S. She was also featured in Juxtapoz in 2012.
The Artillerist will present collection of over 20 of her pieces on April 30 at the Surf Club Gallery. Guests will be able to view St. Claire's final works and purchase tote bags and T-shirts screen printed with her art on site by the Hit and Run Crew.
St. Claire's fiance, artist Dereck Seltzer (Haunted Euth), told LAist a bit about what St. Claire was like.
I have never encountered another human being with a lust for life greater than her, and who approached any and all situations with more enthusiasm. Tina had a pragmatic way of viewing life, pulling from it the essence and bare bones of what really mattered and leaving behind the conflicts and detractions so many of us allow ourselves to get caught up in. She believed wholly in the individual's power to change the world and she did so herself, donating monthly (in secret, no less) to charities that supported animal rights, peace, and the idea of equality for people of all color and genders.
He also noted that St. Claire was a proud feminist who believed in the power of women, often depicting strong women in her work.
"Her work was to her a way to offer something back to those she had never met, but nonetheless still wanted to inspire. If she could do it, so could you. That was her belief, that by offering the best she could to any given situation, she could inspire others to do the same. I know this to be true, because she did so for me, time and time again," Seltzer said.
You can see more of St. Claire's work on her Instagram here.
Eternal takes place April 30 from 7-11 p.m. at the Surf Club Gallery, located at 1621 N. Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood.
