Lina Cerrone Gallery, an international contemporary art gallery in the heart of Miami’s Wynwood Arts District, is celebrating its first anniversary this winter with four exhibitions: “Odysseus” by globally acclaimed photographer Bastien Soleil, “Masquerade” by Korean illustrator Lee Gihun, “False Idols” by graffiti artist Sven, and “Oh What Beautiful Flowers” by local emerging talent Patrick Penkwitt. The exhibition calendar includes:
“Odysseus” by Bastien Soleil: Sept. 9-Dec. 31
French photographer Bastien Soleil, an underwater artist who received multiple international awards for his short film Tang’O, expresses his art and talent from behind the lens. Inspired by freedom and the quest for self-knowledge, his work highlights the raw beauty of his models, a technique he has developed during countless freedives (his parallel life to photography).
Born in the center of France, Soleil officially “met” the sea in Asia. There, a love story started that still bears fruit today. After multiple adventures around the globe in a frantic search for happiness, Soleil received the undeniable “call of the sea,” a call so strong that it pushed him to become a freediving instructor.
This has allowed him to explore and apply the complexity of his compositions both above and below the surface with exquisite effect. All his work is done in a natural, underwater environment without trickery or artificial light. His work reflects his personality: free and without artifice.
“In the age of artificial intelligence, the act of artistic creation finds itself mistreated,” Soleil said. “The form becomes more important than the substance, the destination more important than the path.”
“Masquerade” by Lee Gihun: Sept. 9-Dec. 31
Korean artist Lee Gihun blends fantasy and reality, challenging viewers to reconsider their perceptions of the world. Inspired by Noah’s Ark, his work critiques Western human-centric worldviews and explores the next generation’s place in society.
Gihun’s unique style combines traditional Korean painting techniques with modern materials, creating flat, dark-colored planes and textured, three-dimensional forms.
Born in 1980, he grew up in a paradoxical environment: a rural village nestled between national parks and Korea’s largest cement factory. This upbringing shaped his ambivalent perspective on nature and progress.
Gihun’s art reflects his childhood experiences and Korea’s complex history, including the impacts of imperialism and the Cold War. Gihun extends his artistic process through social media and live painting performances, often using discarded materials to address social issues.
An award-winning illustrator, Gihun has gained international recognition at events like the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. He continues to create from his hometown in Korea, exploring the boundary between fantasy and reality while expressing anxiety and empathy for the world.
“Oh What Beautiful Flowers” by Patrick Penkwitt: Sept. 9-Dec. 31
Growing up in Stuttgart, Germany, in a family of photographers, it was only natural for Miami-based artist Patrick Penkwitt to become a photographer at 16 years old. His grandfather was a war photographer, and his parents met in photography school; hence, creativity was embedded in his DNA.
His creative journey began by working for skateboarding and BMX freestyle magazines in Germany and California. After years of shooting extreme sports, such as mountain biking, snowboarding and skiing, he shifted to working with some of the world’s top fashion and advertising brands.
Over time, Penkwitt’s artistic vision has expanded into painting, transforming his early influences into a lifelong project. Intuitively blending whimsy with seriousness, his vibrant paintings feature intricate, imaginative worlds that evoke a sense of play while offering layers of depth. His prints feature famous figures such as Lionel Messi and LeBron James.
Penkwitt’s masterful use of color is both dynamic and unexpected, creating visual experiences that surprise and captivate the viewer. Now, as he explores his expanding practice, Penkwitt brings the same eye for detail and narrative composition that distinguished his photographic work into a new medium.
His paintings showcase a unique interplay of surreal elements and vivid storytelling, capturing a spectrum of emotion and delight that resonates with viewers. Just like a pendulum, Penkwitt lets the pencil swing and move on its own to draw, making each painting one of a kind.
“False Idols” by Sven: Sept. 9-Dec. 31
For French graffiti artist Sven, painting is a physical and visceral experience. His artistic process revolves around composing, decomposing and recomposing, channeling the vibrant energy of city life directly onto the canvas without any preliminary sketches. He envisions his body of work as pieces of a larger puzzle, each painting a fragment of the grand mural of his life, with many more pieces yet to be painted.
Sven’s canvases pulsate with the hustle and bustle of urban life: pedestrians, vehicles, storefronts, buildings, and especially walls. Those walls, whether they border sports fields, industrial wastelands, abandoned houses or train stations, are his muse. They bear the textures, colors and layered histories that inspire him. In his works, materials like plaster, corrugated cardboard, spray paint and drips converge, blending elements of new realism, abstract expressionism and pop art.
An urban soul, Sven draws inspiration from the energy of cities like New York, Amsterdam and London. His canvases explode with color: the yellow of mailboxes, the mustard of taxis, the scarlet of Chinese bazaars, the green of pharmacy signs, the pink of neon lights, the blue of clear skies, the black of asphalt, and the rainbow sheen of gasoline-streaked puddles. When working in black and white, he uses various textures to ensure his colorblind grandfather can experience the same visual impact.
Sven’s paintings also are characterized by his lettering and spectacular formats. Thanks to his work, Sven has been able to exhibit in different parts of the world and his paintings grace interiors from Miami to Paris.
Lina Cerrone Gallery welcomes art enthusiasts and collectors seeking both established and rising talents. It offers a diverse range of contemporary works, from neo-pop art to classical fine art. The gallery uniquely showcases artists who transform new mediums into art. It was the first gallery in the U.S. to exhibit works by Patrick Roger, a famed French chocolatier known for his chocolate sculptures that metamorphose into bronze. It also is the only gallery in the Southeastern United States to exclusively showcase and represent Bastien Soleil, Lee Gihun and Patrick Penkwitt.
“More than just a gallery space, Lina Cerrone Gallery is a pulsating heart in Wynwood,” said Fredric Lean, co-founder of Lina Cerrone Gallery. “We have strived to create a haven where art isn’t just displayed but lives and breathes. We are excited to present these artists’ latest works. Each piece in its respective collection is one of a kind, emphasizing its uniqueness.”
Lina Cerrone Gallery, co-founded by Lina Cerrone and Fredric Lean, is a beacon of contemporary art in Miami’s Wynwood Art District. The gallery is a family endeavor rooted in a shared passion for art that transcends borders. It specializes in showcasing a diverse range of contemporary artists, with a focus on connecting people with the vibrant world of international creativity.
Lina Cerrone Gallery is located at 2239 NW Second Ave., Miami, FL 33137. For more information, visit linacerronegallery.com.
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