SURFACE TO AIR will present selected works by Olaf Breuning at their Paris flagship beginning tomorrow, October 1, 2010. Born is Switzerland, Breuning moved to New York in 2000 to further his artistic production. Starting as a photographer, Breuning now experiments with drawing, installation and video.

The artist’s work will remain on view until January 11, 2011.

Surface to Air
108, rue Vieille du Temple 75003 Paris

The next group show at Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art (5795 Washington BLVD, Culver City, CA), Instant LA, is presented by Stefan Simchowitz and curated by Esteban Schimpf. The exhiibition runs from August 19 to September 20, 2010.

More images from Instant LA and a full artist list after the jump.

Mixed media artist Lady Aiko, took up residence at The Standard, Hollywood, for one week during the opening of her new show, Vivid Fiction, at Merry Karnowsky Gallery. While staying at the hotel as an ‘artist in residence’, she created a stairwell piece incorporating her signature mix of floral designs, girlish cartoons and street pop culture images. This is the second piece Lady Aiko has created for The Standard, following the installation at Le Bain in New York.

Born in Tokyo and having moved to New York in the late nineties, Lady Aiko has been discovering and recreating Americana-type pop imagery in innovative ways. She utilizes stencil, spray paint and silkscreen print techniques to create her vibrant large-scale works that often transform sugary-sweet images to playfully portray feminine sexuality and beauty.

Stills of the installation follow after the jump.

On September 18, 2010, San Francisco’s 941Geary will open local artist Mike Shine’s Flotsam’s Wonder World. The installation, featuring over 200 object, balances a carnival atmosphere with interests in Nordic mythology and 1970s popular culture. An ongoing dialogue between good and evil connect the works, which are designed to be viewed as a hands on experiment or an “Art Opera.”

The wonder world will run from opening until October 30, 2010.

Further preview images after the jump.

Born in California and raised in Hawaii, Ben Brough follows on the tradition of the Beautiful Losers movement. A self-taught artist, Brough mixes collage, painting and sculpture that taps into base human emotions. His interest in art began to burn as he traveled the world in search of the perfect wave. Surfing remains both influence and passion.

Brough’s latest mixed-media output is on display at Chicago’s Art4T Space (210 N. Coast HWY, Chicago, IL) through August 26, 2010. The space is a non-profit venture between JLA Project and Art4T, a arts advocacy agency.

To learn more about Ben Brough head to the jump to view Jesse Fulton’s short film “A Million Charming Creatures” and take a look at more examples of the artist’s work.

David Hochbaum will be exhibiting at Corey Helford Gallery from February 13, 2010. In his second solo exhibition at the gallery, entitled You Are Not Falling, You Are Floating, Hochbaum will create a full environment of mixed media paintings, photographs, and sculptures. His work stems from an interest in the dream state. The artist was born and works in New York City, he trained at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Corey Helford Gallery, 8522 Washington BLVD, Culver City, CA.

Preview the exhibition after the jump.

Minneapolis-based Greg Gossel employs a mix of silkscreen and collage to appropriate pop culture images. He collects pieces from comics, magazines, news papers, and paperbacks, compiling them in dense narratives related to “falling from grace.”

Gossel is represented by Shooting Gallery, San Francisco.

More examples of the art of Greg Gossel after the jump.

Tonight, Medicine Agency is bringing Brooklyn-based Mikal Hameed to San Francisco. The artist creates large scale sound sculptures and mixed media paintings with reclaimed furniture and vintage audio equipment.

“Urban Manifesto #2″ begins at 8pm at 1262 Mason Street, San Francisco.

Exclusive photographs of Hameed working (and finished paintings) by Sean Desmond follow.

The Art Collectors refer us to an excellent piece from the SFMOMA blog concerning the conservation of Barry McGee’s untitled instillation. Acquired by SFMOMA in conjunction , the piece has been reinstalled twice. In a few weeks, it will be rehung for The Anniversary Show (running December 19 to January 16, 2009). Ahead of the show, Appolonia Morrill discussed the challenges of McGee’s work with Director of Conservation and Collections Jill Sterrett.

It’s an informative interview, not just for those interested in McGee but for all tackling concerns with conserving contemporary art. Above is an image of the installation from 2004.

Barbara Kruger, whose influence finds clear evidence in the world of contemporary art, is currently subject of an exhibition at Sprueth Margers, London. Her work incorporates image and block text, critiquing media by subverting the advertising methods of the early to mid 1998s. The exhibition focuses on Kruger’s earliest work with pieces dating from (roughly) 1982 to 1995. Remaining on view until January 23, 2010, the well timed celebration of Kruger’s vision proves her material quite current. (via Wallpaper*).

Sprueth Margers, 7A Grafton Street, London, W1S.