Now's The Time @ Black Rat Projects

East London’s Black Rat Projects will be hosting an exhibition featuring works by artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Shepard Fairey, Swoon, Banksy, Barry McGee, Faile and Os Gemeos. 'Now’s the Time' - named after a Basquiat painting of the same title - will run from 22nd April – 20th May and brings together the most important and influential street artists of the past four decades.

The last five years or so has seen an explosion of artists working outdoors, often in an urban environment utilising stencils, woodcuts, sculptures, stickers, freehand paintings, pasted posters, ceramic tiles and photographs. Media interest has been fuelled by the public’s increasing appetite for street art.

Street art is not a new phenomenon - for at least four decades artists have chosen the streets as a primary place to exhibit works. Most of these artists were initially shunned by the establishment but a select few gradually gained acceptance from a slow moving and conservative art world. Artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring were amongst the early practitioners of what has become known as ‘street art’ and it is the descendants of their work and ethos who are among the best known artists working on the streets today.

Amongst the wide group of people who have chosen to express themselves in the street are some of the most creative and interesting artists working today. What unites these artists is a refusal to play by the rules, to conform to the establishment, to follow the traditional paths set out by the art world.

This refusal to be constrained or dictated to has led to some of the most exciting artworks and projects to be seen in any area of the arts. The freedom to communicate directly with the viewer outside of a traditional gallery environment has not only allowed art to be seen much more as an integrated part of everyday life, but has also introduced the dialogue between artist and audience to a far greater extent than ever before.

Individual biographies are available on request.

Press launch details to follow soon.

About Black Rat Projects

Black Rat is housed in a beautiful 2,000sq foot brick railway arch in London’s thriving East End. The gallery focuses on representing both established and emerging artists and also deals in secondary market works by a small number of international artists.

In addition to this Black Rat publishes original prints by artists they represent. Their editions can be found in important collections in the UK such as Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate and also worldwide.

In the last two years Black Rat Projects have put on over 20 projects which have gained widespread media attention including features in The Guardian, CNN news, CBS news, BBC London, The Sunday Times and The Telegraph amongst others.

Editors Notes:

Web: blackratgallery.com
Address: Thru Cargo Garden, Arch 461, Kingsland Viaduct, 83 Rivington Street, London. EC2A 3AY.
Nearest tube – Liverpool St / Old St
Dates – 22nd April – 20th May 2010
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 6pm. Saturday 11am – 4pm
Entry: Free
Information: 020 7613 7200