Compo's Art Studio Presents EKODA Gallery
Hello, this is Isabel writing to share that the inaugural exhibition of EKODA gallery will take place in Compo’s Midtown painting studio.
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 1st, 2025. 6-9pm
Press Release:
EKODA is pleased to announce its first exhibition Play, curated by Isabel Cunningham. On view at 265 W 37th Street. The exhibition features artwork by: Mikal Bien-Aimé, Imogen Brent, Charles Compo, Natalie Jacobs, Kati Kirsch, Ana Krutchinsky, Rachel Mondshine, Maverick Mura, Jordan Sullivan and Kim Wan.
This exhibition explores themes of subculture, the subaltern and playful disobedience. The work highlights how the mundane can be ecstatic, in motion and displaced in a realm of fantasy. This inaugural installation is born out of the desire to rejoice in a sentiment of lighthearted rebellion.
The genesis of EKODA began with a wish to share artwork in unconventional and ever evolving spaces. Developing a diverse roster of artists, EKODA offers a new way to explore artistic distribution and acts as a conceptual extension of traditional galleries.
Featured Artists
Jordan Sullivan
I work as a substance use disorder counselor and art therapist at a residential rehab facility for teenagers. I work with a lot kids who have witnessed and been victim to so much horrific shit — abuse, neglect, prison, violence associated gang affiliations, etc. In a sense I work in the bowels of the capitalist system, and though clinical social work can be rewarding it’s also deeply disturbing to see how little help and aid America has for those who need it. Physically I spend a lot of time in that space, which is a high stress environment. Thankfully my home life with my partner is calm, which is a blessing because I personally have never had much talent for happiness, so mentally I have a tendency to drift into fairly dark places. Writing and making art is what saves me – that’s where I can express this shit, hopefully make someone laugh or vomit. I guess the ultimate goal is to write a book or paint a picture that makes someone shit his pants.
- Jordan Sullivan
Kim Wan
Looking back to the 1980s, Hip Hop came to the UK from NYC and filtered down to our school. We developed ‘crews’ and held dance battles, every Saturday meeting at our local disco which became the popular choice for many an aspiring break-dancer. I made large-scale spray paintings – or graffiti – on walls. You can still see the faded artworks to this day. However, I was a young parent and had to rise to the challenge, so university would have to wait.
At school, I was good at music and was encouraged by my teacher to pursue my bass playing and music writing, which eventually led to releasing a 12” white label record, “Catch 22”, under the name SYNCRO ART. This led me into the rave scene and acid house, going to free parties and all-night events in London and the South-East. This was all in the early 1990s, which changed how I looked at the world. In 1992 came the perfect storm of pursuing art, rave culture and my father passing away, led to an irreversible life change – for the next four years I painted incessantly, alone in my flat, completely immersed in my work and the life it gave me.
- Kim Wan
Featured Artwork
Imogen Brent, Hiding Your Present From You, (2024). Oil on Canvas 40 x 48”
Natalie Jacobs, Again and Again, Even Though We Know Love’s Landscape, (2024). Acrylic Paint on Wood, 36 x 60”
And many more works of art by talented artists!
Play is on view by appointment.