Spirit Bodies and Microcosms

SPIRIT BODIES AND MICROCOSMS is a 2 person show that examines spirituality and a mystical fascination through the practice of object making. How is visual art connected to the experience of embodiment? Can the seen be used to explore the unseen?

Artists and long time kindred spirits, Erik Bergrin and Andrew D’Angelo, have been enthusiasts of devotional practices, both separately and together throughout their lives. Artistic practice and the inner work of spiritual exploration become integrated in both artists’ work. Their first duo show together creates an intimate curation of a wide variety of objects that include drawings, small and large multi-media sculpture, weavings, video and wall reliefs.

Erik Bergrin is a fiber artist based in NYC, who fuses ancient and contemporary fiber techniques in works which alchemize psychological shadows into creative freedom. The artist draws on his background in costume design, as well as a  study in meditation and the investigation of the mind in order to make the work. This work has been featured in galleries and museums such as Marlborough Contemporary, The State Historical Museum in Moscow, the Morris Museum, The Bakrushian Museum Moscow, The Society of Arts and Crafts Boston, and more. He has designed costumes for shows and movies such as, “A Wounded fawn,” on Shudder,  John Cameron Mitchell’s,”Origin of Love tour, “Goodbar,” at the Public theater.  Erik’s creations have been in publications such as Dazed and Confused, Zink, NY Times, NY Mag, King Kong, and playing on a large led screen in Times Square.

Andrew D’Angelo is a contemporary artist/makeup designer who’s work centers around existential curiosity and personal mythology. His work reflects the abstractions that arise when working through the body, while utilizing figuration and character development to echo a loose narrative of self discovery. Multidisciplinary at heart, his various creative avenues, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and makeup work, serve as a means to explore consciousness through the act of art making. Alongside his visual art practice, he is a longtime practitioner of the Japanese arts of Aikido and Zen. He opened his own school, Wickwood Aikido, in 2017. His collaborations using makeup include work with artist Erik Bergrin in his video piece “The 8 Dissolutions” exhibited at the Morris Museum and Zaz10 gallery, and with musicians Yves Tumor, LSDXOXO, Sunflower Bean, and Uni and the Urchins. Publications include Vogue, Document Journal, Paper Magazine, Interview Magazine, Highsnobiety, Mission Statement Magazine, Issue Magazine, Tush Magazine, King Kong, Rolling Stone and others.