Reception: Thursday, December 11, 2008 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Rena Bransten Gallery's December exhibition, Duo Mysto, will present new work by Don Ed Hardy and Ron Nagle. Vastly different in nature, the sculptures and drawings by the two reflect influences and a philosophical outlook shared by both artists.

In his first exhibition at the Rena Bransten Gallery, renowned tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy presents works showcasing his extensive art repertoire. Drawing from a fusion of influences - Japanese, American, and Pop visual traditions, Hardy explores the shared histories of tattooing, printmaking, and ceramics. His current series involves involves unique images on cast clay forms, realized after consultation with and prototype building by Ron Nagle and then production in collaboration with master ceramists at Risogama kiln in Arita, Japan. In the mixed media works, layered imagery of strange creatures and mythical characters are combined with painting, etched lines, and acrylic casting on a wood support. Hardy challanged himself to mesh image, materials, tradition, and form, resulting in works that resonate on visceral and emotional levels.

Mr. Hardy graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1967 with a BFA in printmaking; he has devoted his artistic career to the development of tattooing as an expressive mainstream medium. He retired from tattooing in 2006 and now divides his time between San Francisco and Honolulu with frequent trips to Japan to work in porcelain and study its visual culture.

For the past fifty years, Ron Nagle has created eccentric ceramic forms from an eclectic array of influences that include the Momoyama period of Japanese ceramics, Josef Albers, Philip Guston, Giorgio Morandi, Hot Rod culture and other Pop idioms. The work will be compised of suggestive new forms that are organic in nature with strong painterly elements. the show will also include a series of drawings related to the sculptural work.

Mr. Nagle was born in San Francisco, CA and has been teaching ceramic for over forty-five years. His work is in many public collections including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; and the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. He currently teaches at Mills College and lives and works in San Francisco.