I think of the artist Aaron Sheppard as the person who is willing to jump off the rocks into the water first, the height does not scare him, nor the sensation of cold ocean water, or whatever lurks beneath the choppy waves…or maybe it does, but he is still determined to make the dive, to be in the moment of discovery, of danger, of sensation. Courage and joy, danger and beauty, these elements all play into a life fully experienced. Immersive and intense, Aaron’s work embraces this way of living…

The artist combines the delectably ribald with a sense the painterly modernism in a wide-ranging body of work that includes assemblages, installations, performances, and mixed media works.

Fragmenting static ideas of sexuality and gender identity, he uses his own body and image as subject repeatedly. Aaron layers this syntax with motifs from diverse sources including 20th century art, erotica, literature, mythology, popular culture, folktales and religion. The oeuvre may be seen as delightfully exhibitionist because it is constantly seems engaged in the sexy theatrics of display. However, there is also a sense of extreme vulnerability and it is this profound fragility that makes Aaron’s work powerful. > Read More

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American lens master Shelbi Schroeder creates provocative fine art Polaroid photographs with an alluring sense of mysterious figures awash in an aura of light.

Quiet metaphors guide the works of JK Russ (New Zealand) who reimagines the beauty and complexity of the natural world in collage, while the trompe-l’œil photographs of Las Vegas artist Nancy Good plays with morphed body parts to create mesmerizing objects.

Crossing boundaries of identity, pioneering Iranian artist Nanda Sharifpour’s portraits offer unseen views of the private feminine, made invisible by fundamentalist rule in her home country.

Likewise, the act of looking and naming is turned upside down by the San Francisco painter SM Shifflett, whose lustrous paintings are a celebration of the diversity of feminine experience.

On the flip side, a thread of irreverence and rebellion runs is seen through New York artist Marne Lucas’ counter-culture pinup that embraces masculine beauty.

Confrontation and humor is the name of the game for Las Vegas artist Sarah Jane Woodall’s outrageous live-action performance, Wonderhussy, celebrates female power…as she puts “Since the dawn of time, it has remained a thing of mystery and even shame. It has been idolized, fetishized, monetized and demonized…but its full power has never been realized. Until now.”

The magic of Israeli sculptor Dorit Schwartz includes a quiet evocation of the feminine. No overt symbols exist, rather seemingly simple shapes stand to express a spectacular vision of something deep within, the open spaces like an abstract illustration of the innermost heart of a man, containing a chakra like crystal, a round curvilinear wood carved to form a womb like interior, reflecting the hidden chakra of woman.

Per Dr. Henkel, “This reveal of new ideas and practice in art, erogenous secrets, and the unspoken realms of art and amour means this absolutely is a show not to be missed, a fascinating audience driven exhibition that promises unforgettable experiences.” The majority of these artists reside in Las Vegas, and their influences represent a global experience.

. . .

About the Art Motel

“Within the 15 square blocks of this year’s Life is Beautiful Art & Music Festival in Downtown Las Vegas is the former Town Lodge Motel,” said Joey Vanas, Life is Beautiful partner. “We intend to transform the now vacant motel and courtyard into an amazing showcase of art and artists, for a unique popup exhibition that will be open throughout the festival.”

The Art Motel is an amazing showcase for Las Vegas artists, and dozens of local creators, collectives, non-profits, classrooms, and galleries are creating site-specific murals and motel room installations for the 2015 Art Motel Exhibition in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Art Motel at Life is Beautiful 2015 features a diverse and talented lineup of CREATORS, including site-specific fine art, conceptual artists, community muralists, aerosol artists, architectural installations, performance art, immersive spectacle, high-tech interactive courtyard and room activations, and several independently curated ‘motel room exhibitions’ from Las Vegas art galleries and artist collectives, including INTIMATELY FEMALE from Sin City Gallery!

For more information on INTIMATELY FEMALE and the latest festival news http://lifeisbeautiful.com/artists/sin-city-gallery/

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About Life is Beautiful

Life is Beautiful is an inspirational company dedicated to helping people conquer their fears and chase their dreams. Its signature project, the Life is Beautiful Festival was founded by Rehan Choudhry in 2013 and launched in October of that same year as a highly successful lifestyle event featuring marquee musicians, chefs, artists and speakers. Held in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, Life is Beautiful attracted more than 60,000 attendees in its first year, grew to more than 90,000 attendees in its second year and expanded to a three-day festival. For more information on the company’s projects and the latest festival news, please visit http://www.lifeisbeautiful.com.

. . .

About Sin City Gallery

Sin City Gallery is known internationally as a destination experience. The gallery is continually featured in the press for its exemplary exhibitions. The gallery produces 12 Inches of Sin, the largest international juried art exhibition of provocative contemporary art in Nevada. Sin City Gallery has been recognized as one of the best 25 galleries in American by the American Art Awards. It is located inside The Arts Factory at 107 E. Charleston Boulevard, Suite 100, Las Vegas, Nevada in the Downtown Las Vegas 18bArts District. Information regarding the gallery’s exhibitions may be viewed at www.sincitygallery.com.

Instagram: @sincitygallery
Twitter: @sincitygallery
Facebook: Sin City Gallery

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She’s curated exhibits at the Erotic Heritage Museum in town.

She’s the owner of Sin City
he artistic landscape of Downtown Las Vegas, but quietly.

And yes, she has seen more than 300 hours of adult films (more on this later).

The intriguing Dr. Laura Henkel, who landed in Vegas in 2008, did so with a bang as she helped conceive the Erotic Heritage Museum where she worked until 2010.

“I was very resistant to Vegas in the beginning,” said Henkel. “But now, it’s in my blood. I’m not a true native, but I’m definitely a citizen of Vegas and I take that to heart.”

It’s Henkel’s courage, ideas, concepts and knowledge combined that make her one of Vegas’ finest and most interesting citizens. She’s pushing boundaries for Vegas visitors and locals alike, plus she’s inadvertently changing the artistic landscape through her ventures, some of which include Sin City Gallery and ArtCulture PR. > Read More 

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