D’STASSI ART PRESENTS A BRAND NEW SELECTION OF WORKS FROM LEGENDARY STREET ARTIST ANGEL ORTIZ’S: 

6th March - 27th March 2022

D’Stassi Art is pleased to present a new exhibition showcasing 15 new works from Keith Haring’s longstanding collaborator and creative partner Angel Ortiz (known as LA II). 

The Puerto Rican street artist who lives and works in New York has created over 30 new large-scale paintings for the show - his first in the UK in over 40 years. King of Hearts is a story of redemption that sees the arts community come together to uplift and celebrate one of the only remaining living artists - discovered by Keith Haring at only 12 years of age - who collaborated with all of the most influential figures of the 1980s. Amongst these include Haring himself, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Richard Hambleton, and Andy Warhol to name a few with more recent collaborations including the likes of London street artist STIK.

Angel Ortiz (LA II) in his studio in New York City

LA II’s career took off in 1980 when Haring, fresh from the Pennsylvania suburbs, came across his ‘Little Angel’ tag on a New York City Street and sought him out to collaborate. A friendship that would last a lifetime, LA II gave Haring access to the city’s vibrant street art scene through The Non Stoppers (TNS) - the largest street art crew of the time on the Lower East Side. 

A combination of brotherhood, art and mutual admiration formed the foundation of their creative partnership and their first collaboration - a yellow NYC taxi hood tagged by both artists - sold for $1,400 at the time with proceeds evenly shared between them. Throughout the 80s, the two artists combined their signatures to create murals, sculptures, train paintings, and objects with LA II’s style and technique thought to have influenced Haring’s solo practice from then onwards. In 1983 aged just 16, LA II dropped out of high school to travel the world and work with Haring until 1985, collaborating side by side and weaving their creativity to create some of the most iconic works to exist in the art market today. 

ABOUT ANGEL ORTIZ

 New York City graffiti artist LA II (a.k.a. Angel Ortiz) is best known for his collaborations with Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Richard Hambleton, Delta 2, Stik, ERO & Cindy Shaoul. Ortiz’s career took off after Haring spotted his “Little Angel” tag upon moving to New York and asked to meet the then-teenage artist. Throughout the ’80s, the two combined their signatures to create murals, sculptures, train paintings, and other objects, and Ortiz’s style and technique are thought to have influenced Haring’s solo practice from then onward. Along with several joint exhibitions together, Angel's art is also featured in the following museums & institutions: The Whitney (NYC), MOCA Museum of Fine Arts (Massachucettes), Museum of Graffiti (Florida), Bel Air Museum (California) ,Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (France), Pepperdine University (California) + more.

ABOUT D'STASSI ART

Since the brand's inception in 2017, D'Stassi Art has established a unique platform for the world's most inspiring emerging talent. In the traditionally exclusive art world, D'Stassi Art looks to discover, encourage and help introduce clients to works of art based purely on how passionate we are about them. The gallery has helped to introduce a variety of the art world's clientele to important contemporary artists through immersive and inclusive events.

D'Stassi Art's main goal is to be as open and transparent as possible with a clear purpose to diversify contemporary art audiences. In its reluctance to simply follow the traditional gallery formula, D'Stassi Art is quickly becoming a key player in a world where art doesn't have to be experienced in an elitist, sterile, and often silent white-walled room. The gallery and its staff act as storytellers: primarily introducing clients to the story of some of the world's most gifted artists.

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