Mark DeMaio: "I Walk The Line" at Sacred Gallery NYC

Mark DeMaio and the Sacred Gallery are pleased to announce I Walk The Line, an exhibition of DeMaio's new series, on view from April 4, 2013 through April 30, 2013. There will be an opening reception on April 4 from 8pm to 11pm.

For the opening reception, DeMaio has created three very special designs that will be offered to guests who wish to receive a free tattoo as a gift from the artist.

Featuring over 20 new paintings and drawings, DeMaio's inaugural solo exhibition at Sacred Gallery marks a departure from his previous colorful body of work. For I Walk The Line, DeMaio has restricted his color palate to black, white and silver, focusing on the strength of his meticulous line-work, reminiscent of both Keith Haring's trademark improvise line and the steady, cutting-edge technique from the best tattoo artists, combined with the perverse whimsey of Aubrey Beardsley.

Despite his simplified set of colors, DeMaio's new works are no less filled with art historical, religious, pop references and celebrity exploitation than his previous celebrated series Pop Goes The Bible. Drawing from a wide range of sources, revealing his constant experimentation and curiosity, DeMaio's subjects range from the swirling, surreal interior of Salvador Dali's brain to the infamous profile of the Wicked Witch of the West to anatomical drawings from Grey's Anatomy. Completely filling these more realistic figures with playful, punk and pop objects such as screaming skulls, clowns, both pleasant and horrific, and generous amounts of religious iconography. DeMaio's works at once recall the pop surrealism of Kenny Scharf and the aesthetics of Dia de los Muertos sculptures. DeMaio's drawings and paintings demand the viewer's attention, illustrating his own complex and fascinating visual landscape.

Born in New York, Mark DeMaio acquired his BFA at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and continued to study art at Carnegie Mellon University before returning to New York, where he currently lives and works. DeMaio's work has been exhibited widely throughout New York City in both solo and group shows.

DeMaio's three recent solo exhibitions–Pop Goes The Bible (2011), Absurd Notions (2010) and Practice of Injury in Private (2008)–at Synchronicity FIne Arts garnered much acclaim. DeMaio has also participated in various group exhibitions including Muffinhead's curated exhibition Banzai! and Super Wow Art Explosion, held at artist Kenny Scharf's Cosmic Cavern. His works are represented in collections both in the United States and abroad–in both Europe and Asia. Additionally DeMaio also generously donates his works to charitable causes, including the recent Trail Blazers Art Auction and To Japan, Love New York at the Munch Gallery. DeMaio's work has been published in New York Daily News, PMc Magazine, Art Sucks, Curate NYC, John Simon Daily, Modern Painter, DEFY Magazine and Slymagazine.com. DeMaio has also designed album art for several musical acts including international recording artists MANOWAR. For the past few years, DeMaio has also created cards, posters and stage scenery for visionary theatre Director Thom Fogarty and his acclaimed Other Side Productions.

Sacred Gallery NYC is a fine arts gallery located in the heart of NYC's historic SoHo neighborhood. Started in 2010 as an offshoot of Sacred Tattoo NYC, Sacred Gallery has hosted an impressive roster of established and emerging artists. The gallery seeks to marry the traditional art world by offering a non-traditional setting and welcomes artists that enjoy experimenting with and reinterpreting the conventional definition of fine art.

Sacred has taken the art world by storm with mentions in BBC, AOL News, FOX News, The New York TImes, Metro NY, TLC Network, National Geographic, American Artist Magazine and more. Exhibitions organized by Sacred have encompassed all the visual arts including painting, sculpture, drawing and printmaking, photography, architecture and decorative arts.