Tag: WWF

March 30, 2016
washington_news
Street Artist Creates Show to Advocate for Wildlife
Photo by Karen Du Maire

March 25, 2016

Street artist BK Foxx, whose murals can be found all over the city, is opening her new solo show “Kingdom” at the Woodward Gallery in lower Manhattan. Part of the proceeds in sales will go the World Wildlife Fund for “BK Foxx: Kingdom.” Her show is the product of mainly the artist’s enthusiasm for animals, featuring an eclectic collection which ranges from psychedelic jellyfish to domestic bunnies.
The works are rendered realistically but with two different mediums: oil and spray paint. While the lion oil paintings are created with detailed precision, there is a dream-like blur to the spray-painted polar bears and seals.
In this show, BK Foxx spreads social awareness about animals and the environment, and each work not only depicts an animal, but also communicates its environmental standing to the viewer. The exhibit benefits the World Wildlife Fund’s mission to relieve pressing threats to the diversity of wildlife. There is a real effort by the artist to depict a connection between animals and humans. Sometimes this is done by rendering humans, and sometimes this is as simple as an interaction with the person viewing the art.
Foxx paints the animals as passive and docile. “Ruth at the Parrot Jungle” is part of a series of smaller oil paintings that were based on monochromatic photographs. This particular piece is sepia and depicts a woman feeding a parrot while it perches on her shoulder. The gentle profile of the woman and the stillness of the animal establish the relationship between the human and the bird, while portraying the mutual understanding between pet and owner. In another oil painting titled “Meow II,” a lion lays sideways in the grass with half of its face visible, looking out at the audience. Although the composition is rendered in excruciating detail and vibrant colors, the animal in repose expresses the expresses the hidden peaceful and soulful nature of lions.
Though there is a unified subject and style linking the gallery’s works, there is an evident contrast at play, between the mix of spray-paint and oil paintings. One is a stereotypically street art medium while the other is commonly used in high art. Perhaps this combination is a transition of street art into galleries, forming a balance between the new and the traditional. At the same time, BK Foxx challenges the separation of street art and high art by showing that there is little to no difference between the two by using both representative mediums to work with the same concepts. The artwork in this show is purposeful in its philanthropic mission to spread awareness of wild animals.
“Kingdom” is on view at Woodward Gallery until May 7, 2016.
Qianqian Li, Contributing Writer

February 9, 2016



Kingdom
March 12 – May 7, 2016
Woodward Gallery

Woodward Gallery transforms into a wildlife sanctuary this spring with Artist BK Foxx’s Kingdom. This is the premiere gallery exhibition for Street Artist BK Foxx whose focus is social awareness of animals. The “Kingdom” exhibition benefits the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) mission to conserve nature and to reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on earth. A portion of all sales from the exhibition, as well as direct donations, will be contributed to the fund set up in honor of BK Foxx’s “Kingdom”.


The word “animal” comes from the Latin “animalis” meaning having breath, having soul or living being. Among our many similar traits, animals contribute to human nature by sharing the commonality of communication. While our ability to communicate differs, it is clear we all do make our feelings known. BK Foxx paints the spectrum from house pets to wildlife with soulful realism expressing the docile nature of these animals.


While her urban murals are huge depictions of animals swimming, sitting, or reclining, the wildlife she brings into Woodward Gallery has an enormity, though not necessarily in scale. This gifted animal enthusiast conveys her broad expression of kinship urging the viewer to become one with the spirit of these beautiful creatures. BK Foxx exceptionally touches us humans with her paintings. She channels the attributes of animal species using spray paint, brush work and her longing to raise awareness for the importance and care of all life.

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The WWF fund for “BK Foxx: Kingdom” is open and accepting donations immediately for the full duration of the exhibition!
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