IGNEUSGERO.blogspot.com is now LUKECHUEH.blogspot.com

When I first started blogging, I blogged under the URL lukechueh.blogspot.com. The name of my blog was "Luke-Brow" (a pun on Low-Brow), and I regularly posted show and project information. Unfortunately, because of some lifestyle choices, I began to totally neglected my blog. I don't recall when I last posted to Luke-Brwo, but come 3 years ago, I made another major lifestyle change (this time for the better), and felt that it was time to start blogging again. But rather than dust off Luke-Brow, I wanted to live Tabula Rasa (clean slate). For my new blogs name, I started by taking the latin from my logo (Igneus Gero - To Bear Fire) and used it for my newest blog's URL.
Come April 2014, after mulling over the words "Igneus" and "Gero", I finally decided that the name didn't suit me. I started by changing the Latin in my logo to Igneus Ursus, "The Fiery Bear" (a whole explanation about this change will be coming soon) and now it was time to take back my name.
I started by changing Luke-Brow's URL to lukebrow.blogspot.com, and then I gave lukechueh.blogspot.com to the blog you're currently reading. And now, all is right in my world.
I'm sorry if these actions might have caused you any problems.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you found my explanation acceptable.

-LukeChueh(.blogspot.com)

Clutter Gallery Presents "Heads"

This May, Clutter Gallery will be the hosting my upcoming mini solo show, "Heads". Clutter Magazine & Gallery are best known for their coverage of the Art/Designer toy scene. As such, we felt that this would be a good opportunity for me to do a show that was very different from my normal paintings-on-canvas shows. Starting with my bear's head, we sculpt and rotocast an 8" in diameter version of it. The end result is a unique platform for me to build this show on.
The show is also a two person show. I'll be sharing the gallery with my friend and colleague Scott Tolleson.
Finally, this is one of my first major exhibitions on the east coast (I've been in group shows out there, but I guess no major galleries in NYC are interested in doing a major show with me), but I'm definitely planning on being in attendance at the opening reception.

Opening Reception Saturday, May 10th, 2014 (6PM - 9PM)
Clutter Gallery 163 Main Street. Beacon, NY 12508

Boba

Boba

Acrylic on Wood Panel

18" x 24"

2014

For Corey Helford Gallery's final show in their original space, they chose to host "Pop-Eyeconic", a group show with a Pop/Icon theme. This was the perfect opportunity to bust out an idea I'd been sitting on for a couple years now: "Boba".
To me, "Boba" was a simple, almost obvious, visual pun. I was honestly surprised I hadn't seen it yet. Combine Boba Fett (the infamous bounty hunter from Star Wars) with Boba Milk Tea (a popular tea based drink featuring "boba" or tapioca balls).  Both of these things have played some kind of role in my life. As a child, the character Boba Fett and the Kenner action figure were hugely popular to me. And as a young asian american adult, I'd indulge in Boba Milk Tea whenever I visited my folks in the San Gabriel Valley. For the painting, I also added a hoodie because it's one of my favorite articles of clothing. 
"Boba" will be available as a limited edition print from my friends at 1xRun on April 11th, 2014.

Alcoholic's Anonymous

In December, 2013, my friend and colleague Michael Mararian curated a show called "Bound Requiem". Hosted by Last Rites Gallery, the idea behind the show was to have artists "reinterpret paper bound books into contemporary art pieces".
For this show, I chose to create a painting on the cover of an Alcoholics Anonymous.
This particular copy of AA was given to me while I was checked into a rehab for a substance abuse problem. Though I personally don't have an issue with alcohol in particular, many addicts are referred to the AA book because of the college level writing featured in its pages. (The NA book is written at an elementary school level)
The painting I created is essentially a revisit of my painting "Dirty Martini". The biggest difference being the crucifix toothpick that's impale the head/garnish in the cocktail. I chose to feature this kind of religious imagery because Alcoholics Anonymous (and Narcotics Anonymous) turn to religion as a tool to help addicts come to terms with their humility. Unfortunately, it's this religiousness that I find difficult to accept, and usually kept me from accepting their fellowship.

Milk & Cookies

Milk & Cookies

8" x 10"

Acrylic On Wood Panel 

2013

"Milk & Cookies" was created for a Krampus themed group show hosted by Copro Gallery in December 2013. In case you're not familiar, while Santa distributed gifts to the "good" children, Krampus distributed punishment to the "bad" ones.
Upon further consideration of this relationship, I wanted to believe that Krampus and Santa were truly partners/colleagues for Christmas. Of course these characters are opposites of each other, but at the end of the day, they also need each other. I perceive them as being two sides of the same coin, and as such, this would mean Krampus would share in the spoils of Christmas, ie. "Cookies & Milk".
This painting ended up being the first in a series I'm hoping to explore in the future. Where most of my paintings are built around a simple formula:"light" characters in "dark" situations, "Cookies & Milk" reverses the formula, inserting a "dark" character" in a "light" situation.

"Love & Allergies" Silk Screen Print Release

Love & Allergies

16" x 20"
2014

On Saturday, February 1st, I'll be signing my limited edition 7 color silk screen print of "Love and Allergies", the painting I created for Cat Art Show Los Angeles.
Only 80-85 of these prints will be available. They are $250 a piece and the image is sized at 16" x 20." If you don't have to live in LA to buy them - you can email susan@catartshow.com to place an order!

The Cat Art Show and my signing are hosted by 101 Exhibit
6205 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

The signing will run from 2pm-3pm. 
I hope to see you there!

Post It Show 9

On December 2013, I participated in Giant Robot's annual Post It Note Show (number 9). For this show, I started by thinking about how I used post it notes. What I realized was that I mostly used them as grocery lists. From there I illustrated six items I normally purchase when I go grocery shopping.

 

The week after the opening of Post It Show 9, Giant Robot decided to host a second opening since a bunch of artists were late with their contributions. I used this opportunity to create a second set. Sticking with the food theme, I chose to create a series inspired by my love of coffee.
For my coffee series, I decided to feature an animal that I consider the opposite of what coffee stands for: the Sloth.