Sam Flores Print Signing

Upper Playground, in association with FIFTY24SF, is pleased to announce a unique collaboration with SPARC - San Francisco's Premiere Cannabis Dispensary, and long-time UP artist Sam Flores. The collaboration consists of a limited edition run of Men's and Women's T-shirts and Sweatshirts, exclusively available through SPARC, as well as 2 new Sam Flores prints. The prints will be released this Friday 11/20, with an artist signing between 5:00pm-7:30pm at SPARC's 1256 Mission Street location in San Francisco. There will also be a new gallery installation of Sam's work on view and available for purchase in SPARC's Vapor Lounge.

"A Light In The Darkness" at FIFTY24SF

FIFTY24SF has undergone a transformation in order to embody the concept of Sam Flores' "A Light in the Darkness". The installation included special lighting techniques as well as changing the interior space to black. The artist specifically designed this particular body of work to appear as if it were levitating when placed in a dark room with light directed only on the canvases.

"Playground Legends" at Fifty24SF Gallery & Upper Playground

We are pleased to announce our upcoming Holiday Print Show entitled "Playground Legends." The show includes limited edition prints from artists including Brian Flynn, Greg "Craola" Simkins, Dora Drimalas, Estevan Oriol, Herbert Baglione, Jayde Fish, Jeremy Fish, Mars-1, Miss Van, Morning Breath, Munk One, Nate Van Dyke, Pez, Sam Flores, Saner and Smithe.

Opening Saturday December 14th, 6pm

OPENING NIGHT PHOTOS FROM SAM FLORES "LION AND THE LAMB"

FIFTY24MX presents MiniMart and a new mural by Ericailcane

FIFTY24MX has curated an awesome collective show with original artwork and limited edition prints from more than 20 international and local artists – including Alex Pardee, Charles Glaubitz, Sam Flores, Rene Almanza, Saner and many more.  The show opened last weekend and will be open until Sunday 19th Dec.

The location is a beautiful art noveau mansion in la Roma district,  the young, bursting neighborhood of DF . Current FIFTY24SF artist, Ericailcane, made an amazing mural in the entrance and during the week there’s been several events: art documentaries projections, music concerts, multimedia art and lots of parties, tequila and wine. Tons of images of the work below, but to check the entire show, images and the catalogue. CLICK TO SEE THE REST

Ericailcane Mural Part 1: The changing of the murals

The paint has peeled, the colors fading, we are sad to see it go but it was time for Upper Playground to get a new mural above it's store.

Charlotte and Andrew prep the wall

But first, the side wall.

We'll give you the rest of it soon. . .

A message from Jeremy Fish in Mexico....

Greetings from sunny guadalajara mexico. mi amigo sam flores and i were sent here to give a lecture and teach a workshop. the workshop was cancelled, so we just talked, painted some big dudes, drank mas cervecas, and mostly fucked around. i am really starting to get tired of the road, and miss north beach. a few more weeks i guess. below is the theme song for my life this summer, and a few gem snapshots from old mexico… -jeremy fish

A mexican dog raping Sam Flores.

Jeremy may have the baddest collection of hurraches of any white dude ever.

Sam Flores & Jeremy Fish in Guadalajara, Mexico

While we are waiting for some photos and updates from Sam Flores and Jeremy Fish adventure for a show they are in Guadalajara, Mexico, check out what is going down at Chouroom.mx. If you know Spanish, that helps.

Just Say No

Ako Castuera, Charles Giaubitz, King Edmund, Lisel Ashlock, Luciano Durn, Mike Giant, Sam Flores, Satoshi Kamata & Zephyr

The Lost Art of the Film: INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS BENEFIT ART PROGRAM

BENEFIT ART PROGRAM TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE

SA Studios Global’s Film Marketing Division has teamed up with Quentin Tarantino, Upper Playground and The Weinstein Company to present, THE LOST ART OF INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

On February 18th, 2010 from 6p – 9p the world will get to preview and purchase the “Lost Art of Inglorious Basterds” at The Upper Playground Art Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles. All proceeds from this program will be donated to The American Red Cross to help the victims of the Haiti Earthquake.

This creative team has assembled the following select group of accomplished artists, David Choe, Sam Flores, Estevan Oriol, Grotesk, Jeremy Fish, Patrick Martinez, Alex Pardee, Dora Drimalas, Munk One, N8 Van Dyke, Rene Almanza, Morning Breath and Skinner Davis, to create their own poster art based off their interpretation of the Oscar Nominated film, “Inglourious Basterds” artwork.

Each print will be numbered and signed by Quentin Tarantino. Only six (6) of each amount will be made. The prints can be viewed at http://news.upperplayground.com/ingloriousbasterds.php beginning Tuesday February 15, 2010.

The gallery will open will be open to the general public from 6p – 9p on Thursday February 18th, 2010 at Upper Playground Los Angeles located at 125 East 6th Street in Downtown LA. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the limited edition prints for $300. The prints are giclée archival and are only available for purchase at Upper Playground, Los Angeles. Phone orders and web orders will not be accepted. Prints will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. The purchase of prints will be limited to one per buyer.

Upper Playground releases 10yr Anniversary book.

We are taking a short break from our "Move #19 up close tour"  to bring you news about Upper Playground's ten year anniversary book.  Simply put: it's bad ass.

Weighing in at 3 pounds and 10" thick with 612 pages of graphics and artist commentary, this is a better investment than most college text books. Seriously.  A straight up catalog that tracks the evolution of both the company and the work of the artists involved.

Here are some between the sheets shots.

Available at UpperPlayground.com  and for only $40. Congratulations and thanks to Upper playground for bringing us over ten years of  the best artists and graphic tees on the planet.

Sam Flores, recap: live painting in Golden Gate Park

Awoken by some seriously, ominous sounding thunder claps at 5am on Saturday morning,  a single thought was shared by most  ( if not all) participants for this years Power to The Peaceful event in Golden Gate park; what  happened to the sunshine?! Well, we all forged ahead, braved the rain and lightening to bring the Sam Flores live painting experience to the people.

And for those of you who stayed in your beds on that rainy,  gloomy Saturday you missed out. But as always, we won't leave you hanging...

After, rocking out on canvas, Sam sat down for a few to sign autographs and doodle in some black books. He was probably approached over a hundred times for an autograph while painting and being the gracious guy he is, he greeted each person and was happy to indulge.

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Thanks to everyone who came out. and An enormous thanks to Sam who, like a rock star, braved the rain to paint for us.

Sam Flores, up to some new tricks...

I recently braved the 6 hour drive down to LA to check out Sam's new show "Ego, Addiction, & Other Bedtime Stories" at Subliminal Projects.  The show was phenomenal. It's always heartening to see  artists that are constantly striving to expand on his or her already well developed skill set, and Sam is no exception. Apparently, he spent the past year developing  a new style and has very clearly been able to add an immense level of depth to his new body of work. I was impressed to see such dark imagery mixed seamlessly with the familiar characters and vibrant color palette that we know and love from Sam. Some of my favorite works from him are the deeper, more emotionally charged ones. And in the past i have only seen a handful of  pieces that reflect what his new work openly celebrates. 

"Lonely"

Hats off to you Mr. Flores,  "Ego, Addiction & Other Bedtime Stories" is a very thoughtful and well executed show.  Weren't able to make it to LA?... Click here to get a more extensive look.