KP Projects/MKG is proud to present Johnny "KMNDZ" Rodriguez' latest exhibition: I'd Rather Love You

This exhibition romantically pairs the sorrow and misfortunes of life-lessons learned, with solace, optimism and love. Painting from memories and experiences, Rodriguez appropriates weaponry as a reference to the explosions of negativity that erupt in relationships, personal struggles and the angst of daily life. How we react in the face of such obstacles determines whether we accept them as tragedies or blessings. Acutely aware of the modern world's preoccupation with false perfection, Rodriguez also reminds us that happiness is ultimately sanctioned by our own perspective and free will.

Cold steel missiles, grenades and biomorphic robots interwoven with natural beauty and mystic references – graceful birds, delicate flowers, loteria cards, numerology – represent both a vision of the past and a premonition of the future. This juxtaposition of nature and machine, yin and yang, reminds us that we have to take the good with the bad.

"This show is an evaluation of personal struggles from the last five years. On the surface you can say the message is about non-violence as a reaction to both physical and psychological destructiveness. It is about what I believe is the necessary response to negative actions – understanding opposite perspectives and responding in love and kindness."
— Johnny Rodriguez

A successful leader in the graphic design community, Rodriquez has worked for some of the world's premier design agencies and top entertainment companies. Still, the internal desire to expand creative expression beyond the commercial realm comes to the forefront in the artist's new body of work. 'KMNDZ' is more than a moniker alluding to the 'undo' option on an MAC computer; it is a reminder that we can rectify the past by focusing on the future.

Concurrently, KP Projects/MKG presents Nicola Verlato's latest exhibition: Conquest of the West

Staged through the proverbial Western narrative, this exhibition visualizes the conflict between idolatry and iconoclasm. Verlato's fusion of classic technique and contemporary subject references the philosophical dispute around the sacred value of images.

Conflict is the core of Western dynamism, particularly the conflict between the idolatry of pagan cultures and the iconoclastic tendencies of monotheism. Verlato finds inspiration in the dramatic climax of physical and emotional intensity of Baroque art, particularly in the masterworks of Michelangelo and Caravaggio. Characterized by rich, deep color, and strong contrast of light and dark shadows, Verlato exhibits a mastery of the human figure and imbues each character with spiritual energy.

Nicola Verlato was born in the countryside of Verona, Italy. At 10 years of age, he began to study drawing and painting under Fra Terenzio, a friar from the monastery in Lonigo. In addition to his unorthodox artistic education, at age 9 Verlato studied classical music at the conservatory in Verona – classic guitar, Lute, piano and composition. He later turned his attention to rock music – playing electric guitar, bass, synths, composing song, jingles and soundtracks for documentaries. Verlato studied architecture at the University of Venice where he lived for almost 13 years, all the while painting portraits and allegorical scenes for the local Venetian aristocracy.

Since then Verlato's work has shown internationally in venues such as the Venice Biennale, Prague Biennale, Sandretto re Rebaudengo foundation in Turin, MART in Rovereto, Victoria Memorial Hall Calcutta, and in numerous spaces in Italy, Germany, Norway, Holland, and the United States. His work has been featured in publications including Flash Art, Juxtapoz, Hi Fructose, & Lodown.

For more information, please contact Jessica O'Dowd jessica@mkgallery.com / (323) 933-4408