Ed. Varie is pleased to present Murky Dreams , a two person exhibition with Denise Kupferschmidt and Josh Slater. Opening reception will be held Thursday, February 15th, from 6-9pm at 184 E. 7th Street, NY, NY.

Denise Kupferschmidt's recent body of two dimensional drawings explore the many selves claimed by and projected onto women from a variety of shifting societal perspectives. Josh Slater's most recent sculptural paintings are made from when you have everything and nothing. 

Murky Dreams is a tale told by two artists who create from the world around them, absorbing the shape and feel of the visual events in the city; the quality and color of old plastic dollar store items; the yellowing aging paper of a book. Their language is a combinatory scheme that draws from the rhythm that pop culture makes as it sweeps precious moments in and out of view, while describing the systems of power that drive discreet interactions in the backs of magazines. 

Between Kupferschmidt’s use of found motifs and Slater’s use of found objects, the two artists share a gravitation to the same visual inspirations and societal references. Each artist describes their own story on a vacant page surgically removed from an aging book, indefinitely dividing the shapes and images until something true appears. They are riveted by supernatural tales, and then cut them apart to create their own stories of evolution, destruction, serenity, chaos, and love. 

Denise Kupferschmidt b. 1979 Princeton, NJ lives and works in Queens. She received her BFA from Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and is represented by Halsey McKay Gallery. Recent solo exhibitions include Halsey McKay Gallery, NY, Left Field Gallery, CA, and Cooper Cole Gallery, Toronto. Her work has been included in numerous group exhibitions, including BAM's Next Wave Festival, Eleven Rivington, Foxy Production, Nicole Klagsbrun, Magenta Plains, and Tracey Williams, NY. Kupferschmidt recently completed a mural project at The Ace Hotel in Manhattan.

Josh Slater b. 1979 in New York, New York, lives and works in Queens. Slater holds a BFA, School of the Museum of Fine Art at Tufts University, MA. In 2017 Slater’s work was exhibited at Kristen Lorello, New York, NADA, Miami, and the San Diego Art Institute, and created 4 FILMS BY JOSH SLATER which aired on 8Ball Television. He has been on included in a multitude of group shows, Clifton Benevento, Lisa Cooley, Louis B. James, NY, and China Art Objects, LA, to name a few. Slater’s everyday practice incorporates music and publishing spheres, he directs music videos and independently published zines.

Opening reception for Murky Dreams is Thursday, February 15th, from 6-9pm at the newly opened Ed. Varie EV/LES location, 184 E. 7th Street at Avenue B. Exhibition runs through March 11, 2018. Gallery hours are Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm and also by appointment. For additional information please contact info@edvarie.com.