KMNDZ
Upper Playground and FIFTY24SF Gallery are proud to present a collection of works by Los Angeles based artist and graphic designer, KMNDZ. The exhibition will run from April 7th – May 19th with an opening reception being held at 7pm on April 7th.

KMNDZ’s personal artwork has consistently drawn from his own experiences and the honesty of his work his gained as much notoriety as it’s form. For ‘The Heaviest,’ KMNDZ builds upon a quote from Bob Marley, “Every man thinketh his burden is the heaviest.” Taking from this quote a sense of faith and purpose, KMNDZ has constructed the personal works that make up this show. Playing with the mediums of wood and found paper he has constructed a variety of small and medium panel works which have given his artwork a chance to have fun and breath a new life.

ABOUT KMNDZ:
A successful leader in the graphic design community, this Los Angeles based artist, has worked for some of the world’s premier design agencies and top entertainment companies. With brands like MTV Networks, Universal Pictures, Microsoft, Lexus, Disney, and Activision populating his resume, Johnny has built an impressive portfolio of both artistic and technological accomplishments in the world of graphic design and new-media. However, first and foremost, Johnny is an artist. He attributes his success in commercial design as a direct result of his passion for art. KMDNZ is about both the past and the future. “Anyone who’s ever touched a Mac, knows that the keystroke combination ‘command’ + ’z’ = ‘undo’. After using it day in and day out at work, I started wishing that I had an ‘undo’ action for everyday life. We’ve all done things that we wished we hadn’t, and said things that we would like to take back.” Rodriguez’s personal work is quite different from his commercial endeavors. When he sits down to paint, he puts aside the pressures of mass appeal and commercial accessibility, and instead focuses on creating art for himself. Drawing from his own life, his paintings are filled with memories of family and friends, religious undertones, and iconic elements. A recent piece features a drawing of an audio cassette embedded into a hand grenade. This represents a tough look back at the time when his father left their family to fight a war in Nicaragua, and left only an audio recording to explain his actions. Other paintings depict the biblical stories of Jonah and King David. Yet another deals with a strange coincidence that reminds him of a close relative that recently passed away from cancer. “I’m overwhelmed by the reaction that I’ve received about my art. I paint about the things that have meaning in my life, and it’s amazing to know that it touches others. The messages are simple. Love GOD, Be honest to yourself. Hold yourself accountable for your actions. Never forget. And live your life fully without wishing to hit ‘KMNDZ’.”

The Heaviest will run at FIFTY24SF Gallery from April 7th – May 19th, 2011.

FIFTY24SF Gallery Contact Information:
Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Sunday from 12-6 P.M. and by appointment
Address: 218 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
Contact: Amanda Krampf / Phone: (415) 252-9144 / Email: Amanda@UpperPlayground.com

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