Press Release (Cycle XIII)
November 9th - January 2025
Storage
52 Walker Street
4th Floor
Tribeca, New York 10013
Storage is pleased to present Press Release (Cycle XIII), a group exhibition featuring the works of Rick Lowe (b. 1961), Leasho Johnson (b. 1984), Jeff Way (b. 1942), Hugo McCloud (b. 1980), Michael Igwe (b. 1994), and Carolyn Oberst (b. 1946). Blending abstraction and figuration, this exhibition brings together a diverse assemblage of voices that collectively explore the multifaceted nature of identity, culture, and social observation. Press Release (Cycle XIII) will be on view from November 9th, 2024 through January 2025 at Storage.
The works in Press Release (Cycle XIII) engage with personal and shared experiences, offering a rich tapestry of perspectives that reflect the complexities of contemporary identity. Each artist employs a unique take on narrative, social critique, and material exploration.
Rick Lowe’s interdisciplinary practice maps the connections between culture and community, revealing how these elements influence and inform one another. In tandem, Hugo McCloud’s focus on materiality challenges viewers to consider the intersections of class, race, and identity through the lens of the environment and economy, emphasizing how our surroundings shape our experiences.
Michael Igwe’s storytelling, deeply rooted in folklore, offers a framework through which to explore personal and communal identities. In contrast, Leasho Johnson’s sharp commentary on post-colonial culture prompts critical reflections on the visible and invisible aspects of identity formation.
Carolyn Oberst balances lived experiences with imagined worlds, encouraging reflection on the boundaries between reality and perception. Meanwhile, Jeff Way’s exploration of shamanism and meditation introduces a spiritual perspective, inviting contemplation on the relationship between the personal and the collective.
Together the artists of Press Release (Cycle XIII) create a rich conversation that not only underscores the diversity of contemporary identity but also invites viewers to engage with the inevitable questions arising from their interconnected narratives. The shared contexts of these varied backgrounds reveal universal themes that transcend geographical boundaries, emphasizing the mutual human experiences that connect us all.
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Opening Reception
Saturday, November 9th from 6-8pmStorage Tribeca
52 Walker St, 4th Fl, New York, NY 10013 -
Rick Lowe (b. 1961) is a visual artist and community activist, known for his collaborative projects rooted in social justice. His practice combines painting, drawing, and installation with initiatives that engage communities in dialogue about equity and urban transformation. Lowe is the founder of Project Row Houses, a long-running cultural initiative in Houston’s Third Ward, which has served as a model for community-driven art projects nationwide. Lowe’s work has been exhibited in major institutions, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. He was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2014 and continues to teach at the University of Houston.
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Leasho Johnson (b.1984) is a visual artist working primarily in painting, installation and sculpture. He was born in Montego-Bay but raised in Sheffield, a small town on the outskirts of Negril Jamaica. His work reflects his experiences growing up as a Black, queer man within Jamaican Dancehall street culture. Johnson's art explores the intersection of identity, post-colonial narratives, and the black queer body, often blending painting and drawing to challenge stereotypes and cultural perceptions. His characters navigate the edges of visibility, aiming to disrupt historical and political expectations. Johnson’s work has been exhibited internationally, and he continues to expand his exploration of black mythologies and the autonomy of the black body in contemporary art.
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Jeff Way (b. 1942) has lived and worked in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City since 1969. After his arrival in New York, Way was featured in the Whitney Museum of American Art at their 1973 Biennial curated by Marcia Tucker, and again the following year in a solo exhibition. Since then, Way’s work has been included in various exhibitions at the Contemporary Arts Museum (Houston, TX), the New Museum of Contemporary Art (New York, NY), the Institute of Contemporary Art (Philadelphia, PA), as well as other museums and galleries. Way’s works have been added to the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum through a gift by Larry Aldrich, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Denver Art Museum, the New Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Cincinnati Art Museum.
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Hugo McCloud (b. 1980) is a self-taught artist whose practice blends industrial materials like plastic and roofing materials with traditional painting techniques. Through his work, McCloud addresses issues of labor, geopolitics, and the environment, transforming everyday materials into powerful visual statements. His recent work explores class and environmental impact, using thousands of plastic bags to create large-scale compositions. McCloud's work has been exhibited in solo exhibitions at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum and Fondazione 107, and his work is held in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. He lives and works in Los Angeles, California.
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Michael Igwe (b. 1994, Lagos, Nigeria) works with painting. His work explores the fluidity of the human form and inner life. Drawing on his personal experiences and Nigerian heritage, Igwe’s paintings are a meditation on selfhood, often referencing the nonlinear storytelling tradition of "Iko-Nke Annang." His process emphasizes experimentation and primal gestures, allowing each piece to serve as a reflection on form, subjectivity, and transcendence. Igwe’s work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across Africa, Europe, and the United States. He holds a BFA from the University of Benin and is currently pursuing an MFA at Columbia University School of the Arts. Igwe has been awarded several grants and fellowships, including The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant and a fellowship at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture.
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Carolyn Oberst (b. 1946) is a visual artist whose colorful work is influenced by the different, yet interconnected worlds around her. Whether it is the current, contemporary world, the world she creates for herself in her studio, or her internal world of dreams, intuitions, and memory, these aspects infuse her work. Oberst is an interdisciplinary artist, working across painting, drawing, mixed media, wood relief, and video animation. Currently, Oberst’s focus has returned to the directness of oil paint on canvas. Drawing is an important part of her process, as it provides the foundation from which her image making always begins.
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Storage is an artist-run gallery founded by Onyedika Chuke on the ideals of community, discovery, and connoisseurship. With locations in Tribeca and with a viewing room on the Bowery, Storage acts as an archive of makers that work in a range of materials and come from a wide demographic background. Half of the roster is dedicated to reinvigorating the careers of artists of historical prominence, while the other half focuses on nurturing rising artists. With a strong focus on art by women and people of color, Chuke guides Storage’s nontraditional approach to community building, commerce, and mutual aid. Furthermore, Storage hosts Application Readiness Technique (ART), a mentorship program for young artists and arts professionals.