Richie Fahey
Solo Exhibition
Fitzroy Gallery
20 May – 12 June 2022
New York City photographer Richie Fahey paints on his pictures in a cold water flat, surrounded by his inspiration: a towering collection of 1930s-1960s musty paperbacks and detective pulp. With the help of a postwar hobbyist's manual, “Photo Oil Coloring for Fun and Profit”, he learned to transform black and white photographs into glorious colour by dabbling with pigments on snapshots from the '40s.
Fahey's technicolor-like style evokes lobby cards in old movie houses, covers of dimestore novels and star portraits in fan magazines like “Screen” and “Photoplay”. In defining his style, Fahey is inspired by the posed photographs from detective magazines, cinematographers of the 1940's-50's like John Alton, portrait photographers such as George Hurrell, and painters and illustrators like Leeteg and James Avanti.
In creating his images, Fahey plays with the noir stereotype of beautiful women gone bad and the men who love them. He is painstaking about stylistic detail. Convincing art direction, combined with vintage lighting techniques and hand colouring conspire to create alluring, ambiguous works. The viewer's inability to pinpoint the exact time frame in which a Fahey photograph was taken, lends a certain timelessness to the artist's work.
Phil Noto
Solo Exhibition
Fitzroy Gallery
20 May – 12 June 2022
Phil Noto is a US artist and illustrator with an expansive suite of comic and design experience, boasting a range of heavy hitters with the likes of Marvel, Walt Disney Animation and DC Comics. Formally trained at Ringling School of Art and Design, Noto's work, which carries a sense of conviction in his application and his assured mark-making, is a result of his extensive time in the industry.
With an interest in Mid-century graphic design, his practice references printed ephemera such as retro paperback covers, 1960s soundtrack art and advertising publications. These interests are emphasized with his palette, composition and subject matter, true to the bygone era while adding a contemporary spin!
Jeff Raglus
Solo Exhibition
Fitzroy Gallery
20 May – 12 June 2022
Australian artist Jeff Raglus’ practice spans a multitude of creative endeavours, from visual arts to a full-fledged touring music career. Raglus’ diverse portfolio and wide-ranging experience encompasses design, children’s books, posters, prints and working with brands such as home grown legends Mambo.
Drawing inspiration from Mid-century aesthetics and blurring the boundaries between fine and graphic art, Raglus defines his art as 'surf/folk/pop' and plays with shape and form to imbue his works with his signature bold style.
