Cool Hunting

by Maria Argü̈ello

Artist and curator Francesco LoCastro is Miami's current leader of the pop surrealism movement with the opening of his new Miami Beach gallery, Kitoko Dome. Already a presence on the scene, during the latest Art Basel Miami Beach he curated one of the most popular shows, Gen Art's Vanguard exhibition "No One Belongs Here More than You." He's also been garnering increasing attention for his own distinctive work that often has a cartoon-like, comic book aspect. The new space will be a showcase for that same whimsical, lowbrow aesthetic, bringing a completely different brand of contemporary art to Miami.

Vernissage, the current exhibit, pairs a young, promising, local artist Carlene Muñ̃oz (pictured below left, click image for detail) and Tim Biskup (pictured above right, click image for detail), an established, L.A.-based artist. The idea is to continuously introduce local and national/international and mix the up and coming unknowns with the recognized artists.

At the moment Colin Christian, Kathie Olivas, Sas Christian and LEBO are all on display. (See images after the jump.)

Overall, the gallery exudes a comforting, clever, humorous vibe with bamboo stalks in the middle of the entrance that add to the tranquil, zen-like feel permeating the entire space. It's almost a refuge for the misfits of Miami's contemporary art world—less abstract, more cartoony.

Vernissage
Kitoko Dome
309 23rd Street
Miami Beach, FL 33139 map
tel. +1 954 825 6451

Colin Christian

Kathie Olivas

Sas Christian

Colin Christian