Artist Dredske Addresses Commercialism & Creativity

Elephant Room Gallery is excited to announce a solo exhibition by Chicago-based Artist and Muralist, Dredske (Terence Byas) September 3rd - 25th. Opening night will be Friday, September 3rd from 6 to 9pm. The gallery is located at 704 S Wabash Ave. in the South Loop Neighborhood of Chicago.

Dredske is tapped into current moods and trends, translating that through imagery and collage. This particular body of work addresses intellectual property rights and its role in art. The artist focuses much of his attention on the Supreme brand and logo because of its prominence in the streetwear market and the fact that their logo, white text in italicized Futura Oblique font inside a red box, is an appropriation of artist Barbara Kruger’s text in her artwork. Ironically, Supreme sued a clothing brand called Married to the Mob in 2013 for using their text logo on a shirt. Kruger’s brilliant response in an email attachment to Complex is what inspired the title for Dredske’s “A Ridiculous Clusterf#*k”.

Viewers will be transported into the mind of the artist as bit and pieces of sketchbook paper, magazines, logos and repetitive patterns are collaged with original detailed portraits of characters and abstract shapes. Each piece is its own commentary on culture and commerce, commercialism and creativity. The inspiration behind the exhibition goes beyond the specific reference to Supreme and Barbara Kruger and addresses corporate control, asking us how artists fit into this commercialized and brand controlled society. If art can be turned into branding or if branding is art, who or what is influencing us? The purpose of this body of work is, in his own words, “...to play within the parameters of inspiration and imitation. To question the purpose of intellectual property and its role in art.” - Dredske

Dredske’s characters dominate a lot of his mural and studio work. He often portrays the women he grew up with in different styles in an attempt to bring funky and unique representations of women of color into public spaces. Other recurring figures in his work are cartoon character heads with spray cans, which the artist refers to as “Air Painters”. These characters represent graffiti and street artists and are meant to add whimsy and commentary to his work. They have become a signature for Dredske.

Terence Lashawn Byas, also known as “Dredske,” was born in Chicago in 1982 and currently lives and works in the city as a painter, muralist, and illustrator. His work is a playful commentary on issues regarding society, technology and culture. He’s inspired by the middle ground where fantasy meets reality, western and eastern pop cultures and his own cultural background and experiences. Dredske uses acrylic paint, collage, aerosol paint, and inject transfers as his medium. The artist has been involved in exhibitions at The Elephant Room Gallery, Galerie F, Chicago Truborn, The Zhou B Art Center, The Silver Room Gallery, OhNo Doom Gallery, Vault Galerie, and Around the Coyote. His work is in the private collection of Jumaane N’Namdi , Nathan Mason , Hannibal Buress.