Guests were seduced, ensnared and dangerously dazzled last Saturday night as Cella Gallery debuted 'Femme Fatale'. Curated by Nicole Bruckman and Stephanie Chefas, 'Femme Fatale' features 39 new contemporary artists whose inherent aethetic is heavily influenced by the female figure. From Realism to Illustration, from Sculpture to Photography, the show explores how individual perceptions of feminine allure can be expressed through each artists' specific genre. An archetype in both history and art, the femme fatale is a timeless figure whose mysterious beauty has inspired artists for generations. After all, who doesn't remember the vivid baroque depictions of Judith Beheading Holofernes from their art history classes? As this exhibit demonstrates, the inspiration provided by women like Judith has only gained momentum and scope with time.
From Apricot Mantle's excessive take on Japanese horror to Chrystal Chan's vivid portrait of a young girl with a tiny deer in the palm of her hands, each work in the show is a piece to the puzzle of mysterious feminine allure. The utter lack of repetition proves that the femme fatale--like both women and danger itself--can take an endless variety of forms and often strike when you least expect it.
To view the exhibit online, visit stephaniechefas.com. To view the works in person, visit Cella Gallery in North Hollywood. Show runs until March 17th 2012.
*All photos by Sam Graham
Sarah Folkman
Shannon Currie Holmes and Jeff Ramirez
Aaron Nagel
Ken Garduno
Morgan Slade
Guests admiring David Bray's work
Linnea Strid
Christina Paulos
Casey Weldon
Stella Hultberg
Nom Kinnear King
Sherri Trahan and Cristina Paulos
JAW Cooper and Kristen Moore
Mr. Numberonederful