Wilde America

ABOUT THE SHOW

Wilde America is a wild ride through Victor Wilde’s eyes. America is many things to many people: the land of opportunity, fame, glitz and glamour, power, diversity, freedom. However that freedom isn’t free. Wilde explores what it means and what it is to be an American. Where we are and where we come from; celebrating the absurdity of life, in the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

Artist Victor Wilde made the pieces in this exhibition exclusively with found objects and fabric remnants from his studio in the historic core of DTLA. Utilizing destruction as creation Wilde produced a large body of bricolage. sculptures, paintings, drawings, prints, and a collection of weaponized art he calls, “Wilde Things”.  Wilde America will also debut documentary excerpts of United We Stand, Wilde’s cross country journey as a street performer two weeks after 9/11..

SAVE THE DATES

Opening night reception, Saturday, May 20th from 5:30-8:30pm

Fashion Focus & Art Talk with Shana Nys Dambrot,  Friday, June 2nd from 6-8pm

Fundraiser for LGBTQ and Planned Parenthood, Saturday June 16th  7-9pm

Closing Reception, Sunday June 25th 12-4pm

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Victor Wilde,  has been immersed in the arts culture of Downtown LA for over 25 years.  Prior to that, Wilde began his arts career as a street performer in his hometown of Brooklyn NYC.  He is primarly known for his iconic fashion label, Bohemian Society in 2003.  Victor’s interactive fashion performances and installations have appeared at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Somos Gallery  (Berlin), Tokyo Fashion Week, the Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA), LA Weekly’s Artopia,  the OC Center for Contemporary Art and the Lancanster Museum of Art and History (MOAH). The Bohemian Society collection is meant to excite and surprise. Each item of clothing, while worn, should inspire the same feelings you get from seeing powerful art. It strives to be thought-provoking and emotional and bigger than itself, reflective of something both hidden and essential about the world; enduring, but of its time.

"As a young man my great-grandfather set sail for America. He left his family and his father’s business and support behind, intent on becoming an artist. During the Depression, with little money and several children to support, Grandma would throw his sculptures from their 6th-floor tenement window because, “They were worthless and he needed a job.” He lost four fingers on his right hand to a metal press, quickly killing his artistic aspiration. The creative fire was extinguished for two generations until a little boy was born in Brooklyn and picked up his torch. I create. I make art. I have to. It boils in my blood. To create is divine. To inspire as I am inspired is my reason for living. To draw upon and contribute to our collective consciousness. Sexuality, biting satire, music, provocation, confrontation, self and societal reflection are all prevalent in my work. As a born and bred New Yorker I aim to add to the flames of such hometown heroes as Deborah Harry and Alan Vega, finding solace and inspiration in how they lifted the veil of hypocrisy on society as a whole. Knowing that real wealth comes with creating community, interaction, collaboration, experience, and legacy, I feel an undying love for the craft with a will to be different while making a difference. It’s the Wilde way." - Victor Wilde