Marlborough Contemporary is pleased to present Juicy, a solo exhibition of new works by American artist Charlie Roberts.
Appropriating its title from Notorious B.I.G’s 1994 debut single, Juicy fuses elements of hip-hop subculture with myriad art history influences – from Byzantine iconography to Matisse, via folk art and comic books – representing the artist’s freestyle approach to high and low culture.
Featuring some 200 gouaches on paper – hung Salon-style – the exhibition at Marlborough Contemporary will mark a departure for the gallery, with Juicy reimagining the space as a ‘pop-up shop’. In keeping with the artist’s practice and ethos – making artwork both affordable and accessible – once purchased each piece will be taken off the wall and replaced with a new one, ensuring the exhibition is in a constant state of flux.
The works indicate Roberts’ playful attitude towards drawing and painting, experimenting with different subjects and styles. Elongated female figures dissolve into more abstract and patterned pieces – graffiti-like – while bright and acidic colours counterbalance pastel tones.
Marlborough Contemporary (press release)
