New Featured Artist: Kim Pham

It is my pleasure to announce this summer’s featured HYPE artist: Kim Pham!

My first real introduction to Kim was at a skate contest, where, upon needing to change shirts in the summer sun, she simply took her shirt off and changed in view of ten ogling skater boys. She didn’t bat an eye. That sort of action conveys Kim’s artwork in a way- it’s absolutely crazy, but nonchalant. Melting faces, naked girls with antlers? It’s like if DaVinci drew a Cannibal Corpse album cover- intense, but classically refined, which I feel is an almost impossible feat for an artist to achieve. It makes you wonder how she sees the world. Until you see Kim’s artwork, she suckers you into thinking she’s just an unassuming little Vietnamese girl, and I think that’s where she wants you, because then she can smack you in the head with a brick for overlooking her immense potential. None of the HYPE collective overlooks that potential, we know Kim is some kind of special when she gets a pen in her hand. It’s a joy to have such a natural talent among our ranks.

Welcome to the Collective, Kim!

HYPE’s First Sale and New Show

HYPE just sold his first painting, “Origami Crane in a Cage,” to a resident of Chapel Hill. HYPE is very honored that someone wants to collect art as much HYPE wants to make art. Sincere thanks to Jack Sprat Cafe for the opportunity to show his work!

HYPE is now showing at Cup-A-Joe on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, North Carolina for the month of April. Stop by, grab a drink, listen to 88.1 fm, and check out the entire “Hand(Jobs)” collection on display there.

Believe the HYPE.

New Featured Artist: Ian Cochrane

The HYPE Collective is pleased to introduce its March-April artist, Ian Cochrane.

I first met Ian through skating. He had written”Kill Frat Boys” on his grip tape and we became the best of friends soon thereafter. Ian is a sort of kindred spirit to me- someone who can finish my sentences, someone who’s work and lifestyle I truly respect. When he’s not taking photos, he’s traveling to places just to watch the sun rise, or restoring motorcycles, or teaching himself how to do leatherwork- he’s a Renaissance man in an era of one trick ponies and I think this is where his deep pining for the good ol’ days comes from. He was on the shortlist of people I wanted in the HYPE Collective. His photos are just solid across the board. No one really captures the face of a feeling like him- I shiver when I see his mountain landscapes, I hear waves when I see his pictures of the ocean, and I feel like I could just reach out and caress the faces of his portraits. His work has this trademark nostalgia to it, as if Ian was so many different people in some many past lives and photos are the spirits way of trying to tell him who he really used to be. As if this wasn’t enough, his artwork is phenomenal- a true testament to the HYPE Collective’s philosophy that you don’t need classes and money to be talented. He recently launched his own clothing and accessories company, “See Creature,” by printing shirts by hand in his kitchen. Ian is an integral part of the Collective and one of my closest friends- I’m happy to show him to the world as he’s shown the world to me through his art.

Welcome to the Collective, Ian.

New HYPE Show

HYPE is now showing at Jack Sprat Cafe in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for the month of March. This is his first show outside of Raleigh.

HYPE’s First Public Showing

HYPE will have one of his pieces, “Raleigh,” at the Visual Art Exchange’s “Open Source” show. The exhibit runs throughout the month of February and features several other local artists. This is HYPE’s first public appearance.

HYPE Collective Showcase #2

The HYPE Art Collective will be hosting its second showcase on February 4th! Come support local artists and have a great time while doing so. This showcase will feature new works from Drew St.Claire (HYPE), Ian Cochrane, Lily Huynh, Joe Wright, Rachel Hoyle, Kim Pham, Scott McLelland, and Kieran Moreira. Due to demand, there will be two separate parties, which are detailed below.

Feb. 4th, Day Party: The HYPE artists will be at 88.1 WKNC’s day party/market at Tir Na Nog Irish Pub in downtown Raleigh from 1-5pm. Some of the Collective artists will have their work for sale/display at the pub along with local musicians and vendors. Be sure to check out WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit concert that night and hit the HYPE night party afterwards.

Feb.4th, Night Party: The HYPE artists will be back at our unofficial studio space, 3605 Burt Drive for the night party at 9pm. We will have artwork on the walls, keg(s) of beer, and DJ Sunshine spinning tunes. Due to the volume of people at the last showcase, there will be a $5 entry fee. That gets you inside the house to look at the art/photos/films, hear the music, and drink all you like- a way better deal than anything else happening that night, guaranteed. Park on Collegeview Avenue and/or as far away from the house as possible.

We look forward to seeing you at either (but hopefully both) events! Believe the HYPE…

SOPA and PIPA- Don’t Believe That HYPE

A special message from HYPE:

The proposed bills SOPA and PIPA, quite simply, kill free expression on the Internet. As an artist, freedom of expression allows us to do what we do- which is bring love into the world through our creations. It is a natural right that cannot be infringed upon to any degree. It is human nature to express through art. An artist literally pours their soul into their work, without a care for compensation or recognition. Artistic expression and the ability to comprehend it is unique to mankind, it is one of the defining features of being a human. Art makes us who we are. However, bowing to corporate interests and misplaced fear, Congress has introduced measures like SOPA and PIPA to destroy free expression on the Internet. These measures are the enemy of art, of all that is beautiful and true. They are the enemy of art. They are the enemy of you and me. The HYPE Art Collective was started as a place for free expression. It will not be destroyed by SOPA or PIPA. Free expression, beauty, and truth cannot be destroyed. An artist will fight for their right to self expression with their life, because their self expression is their life.

The HYPE Collective is in direct opposition to SOPA, PIPA, and the spineless cowards who will vote for it. We won’t believe the hype.

Sincerely, HYPE