On Saturday, August 26th, downtown Los Angeles’ Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) will proudly unveil their next major solo show, titled Peering Through the Darkness, featuring new works from established Los Angeles art scene painter Luke Chueh.
Chueh is a Chinese-American contemporary artist known for his insightful and thought-provoking commentary on modern society and the human experience. Through his distinctive style that blends elements of pop art, minimalism, and surrealism, the artist explores the complexities of human emotions, relationships, and identity. In his works, Chueh often employs anthropomorphic characters (such as bears or rabbits) to serve as metaphorical stand-ins for the human condition. These characters are depicted in various scenarios, ranging from the absurd to the melancholy, that reflect the range of human experiences and emotions.
Chueh’s work is both haunting and humorous, inviting the viewer to contemplate their own experiences and question the world around them. He tackles difficult and controversial topics (such as loneliness, depression, and the meaning of existence), challenging viewers to confront their own fears and insecurities. Through his art, Chueh encourages us to question our place in the world and to reflect on the human experience in all its beauty, tragedy, and absurdity. Peering Through the Darkness marks Chueh’s first major solo show at CHG since Intensive Purposes (Feb. 2021).
Open to the public and free of charge, Peering Through the Darkness is set to debut on Saturday, August 26th from 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm in CHG’s Gallery 2, alongside a solo show from Pop-Surrealist painter, illustrator, character creator, and comic artist Camilla d’Errico, titled Nurtured by Nature, in the Main Gallery and the annual BUY ART SAVE KITTENS fundraiser (presented in partnership with Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats) in Gallery 3. All three shows will be on view through September 30th.
About Luke Chueh:
Born in Philadelphia, PA and raised in Fresno, CA, Chinese painter Luke Chueh (pronounced CHU) studied graphic design at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, earning a BS in Art & Design (Graphic Design concentration). Chueh would go onto become the in-house designer/illustrator for the world’s leading guitar manufacturer, Ernie Ball, where he created several award-winning designs and was featured in the design annuals of Communication Arts and Print Magazine. In addition, during this period, Chueh founded, created, and produced a music zine, titled E.X.P., dedicated to the “Intelligent Dance Music (IDM)” genre.
In 2003, Chueh moved to Los Angeles to further pursue a career in design; however, a lack of employment opportunities left him resorting to painting (only a hobby at that point, he picked up in college) as a way to keep busy. Eventually, Los Angeles’ underground arts organization Cannibal Flower begin inviting Chueh to show at their monthly events, launching his career as a studio artist. Since then, Chueh has quickly worked his way up the ranks of the Los Angeles art scene, establishing himself as an artist not to be ignored. Employing minimal color schemes, simple animal characters, and a seemingly endless list of ill-fated situations, Chueh stylistically balances cute with brute, walking the fine line between comedy and tragedy.
Chueh’s work has been featured in galleries around the world and profiled by the likes of Juxtapoz, Clutter, Entertainment Weekly, and LA Weekly; in addition to some of his paintings being reinterpreted into vinyl toys. In 2008, GRAMMY®-nominated rock band Fall Out Boy commissioned Chueh to design the artwork for their fourth studio album Folie à Deux. The band’s bassist, Pete Wentz, owns the original painting.