In LEGO We Connect: The Adventure Continues

October 26, 2015 (Seattle) – Earlier this year, the Bryan Ohno Gallery hosted the first Fine Art Lego Photography exhibit in the world. Popular demand by critics and fans alike has resulted in this second, all-new show featuring even more artists from around the globe as they capture 21st century pop culture with a fresh sense of mystery, wonder and playfulness.

November 5th through December 12th, the gallery welcomes new work from photographers Kristina Alexanderson, Shelly Corbett, Mike Stimpson, and Boris Vanrillaer. Linked by their sense of wonder and imagination, each of these artists capture the beauty of humanity in the unexpected subject of LEGO mini figures. Through their fine-art photographs, we gaze through a portal into the surprising, imaginary lives of these beloved characters, their soft moments of connection, empathy and nature mirroring our own lives, past and present.

All four of the artists are members of Stuck In Plastic, an arts collective that promotes the toy photography community and enables others to experience the whimsy and camaraderie shared by toy photographers and their fan base. Stuck In Plastic’s mission is to bring like-minded individuals together for toy photography meet-ups, foster information-sharing, participation and collaboration. A lively blog and more information can be found at stuckinplastic.com.

The gallery will host an artist’s reception, open to the public, on Thursday, November 5th from 6 to 8pm. In addition, the artists will host a free family Toy Photography Workshop on Saturday, November 7th from 1 to 3pm.
In LEGO We Connect: The Adventure Continues

November 5th through December 12th 2015

Bryan Ohno Gallery, 521 S. Main Street, Seattle

Opening reception November 5th from 6-8pm

Family Toy Photography Workshop, November 7th from 1-3pm

For more information and to register for events, please visit bryanohno.com

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Shelly Corbett (Seattle, US) Instagram @xxsjc

After many years photographing ethereal underwater nudes, a twist of fate shifted Shelly Corbett’s focus, drawing her into the more playful world of toy photography. Voyeurism has remained a consistent theme as Corbett reveals exquisite glimpses into the private world of LEGO mini figures, her photos narrating beautifully crafted, hidden moments that encourage viewers to create their own stories about each figure. Corbett initiated the creative collective of Stuck In Plastic and is committed to strengthening the global community of toy photographers.

Mike Stimpson (Birmingham, UK) Instagram @balakov

A stormtrooper looks out of a window pensively as rain falls outside—a moody scene not many Star Wars fans have ever witnessed before. This is the beauty of UK-based toy photographer, Mike Stimpson, and his visual interpretations dealing with the LEGO characters that are so notorious in popular culture. These icons and characters are well-known in our world, but the moments he captures are small ones of quiet humanity—baking cupcakes, crafting a paper airplane, or playing with a kitten. By re-imagining stories from “a long time ago in a galaxy far far away,” Stimpson’s work takes us on a journey to discover the parallels within our own fragile humanity.

Boris Vanrillaer (Stockholm, Sweden) Instagram @_me2_

Boris Vanrillaer is working with three distinct yet interconnected mediums: plastic toys, light and nostalgia. His work takes us down a fantastic rabbit hole, limited only by our own imagination, with only a bit of magic and the smallest trace of light. By capturing the images of figurines at the first spark of an adventure, his work inspires us to remember own childhood adventures, beautifully illuminated by the magical light that is specific to the Northern Hemisphere. Vanrillaer co-initiated the Stuck in Plastic arts collective with Corbett.

Kristina Alexanderson (Stockholm, Sweden) Instagram @KAlexanderson

Kristina Alexanderson works mainly with characters from the Star Wars saga, capturing the ordinary life of an Imperial soldier. Through her photography, Alexanderson questions the motives of traditional myths and parenthood, searching for clues to unlock age-old questions of good and evil. Alexanderson is also an ombudsman for Creative Commons Sweden, working to spread awareness of Creative Commons. In 2012, she published the guide, Source Criticism on the Internet.

About the Bryan Ohno Gallery

The Bryan Ohno Gallery features works that blur the line between art and science, challenge art traditions, and embrace evolving cultural intersections. Selected in 2013 as one of “Seattle’s 10 Best Contemporary Art Galleries,” by The Culture Trip, the gallery originally opened its doors in 1996 in Pioneer Square. The gallery is now located in the thriving artists’ neighborhood of the International District. For more information, please visit bryanohno.com