An art gallery debuts in Chinatown with Seattle artist's paintings

This is an article about an art gallery that opened up in New York City's Chinatown neighborhood in January 2012 that debuted with a series of paintings by a Seattle-born painter and graffiti artist. This article first appeared on Examiner.com on January 13, 2012 with the headline 'Klughaus Gallery debuts in Chinatown with Works by Seattle street artist.'

The Klughaus Gallery is the hottest new thing to open up in Chinatown this weekend. The gallery debuts with an exhibition by Seattle based street artist and painter Jesse Edwards. Titled Dialogue of the Streets, the show features Edwards’ recent works on canvas created over the past two years, including the classic landscape and unconventional still life paintings for which he is best known.

The show’s title is a reflection of Edwards’ wild life growing up in the Northwest, where he’s been called “an escapee from a life of crime.” Edwards channeled his energy into his paintings, which illustrate his unique and rather defiant perspective. Over time, he developed a more relaxed and optimistic outlook on life, and began incorporating classic 19th century Impressionist styles to complement his personal interpretations of life on the streets.

Edwards has been compared to Old Masters and Impressionists such as Degas and Rembrandt, while maintaining 21st-century raw, honest, and rather graphic style. Haunting pieces featured in the show include the horrific sight of smoke coming from the collapsing South Tower of the World Trade Center, a still life of spray paint cans with profane messages, and a graphic nude portrait of a young woman. Less blunt images include a still life with a plant with a peace symbol beside it, and an aesthetically pleasing scene of a public park.