September 13th, 2012

Dennis Manarchy's "Metal" Exhibition: 
A vivid experience of a post-apocalpytic love story.

                   Sven Asmus, Arica Hilton, Dennis Manarchy

Hilton | Asmus Contemporary

The opening exhibition of Dennis Manarchy's "Metal" turned out to be an overwhelming success. Over 500 guests visited us Friday evening, making our gallery people-packed with collectors from around the city.

As you entered the gallery, it was transformed into a space in which the photographs conveyed individual stories that were understood to be part of a greater tale.  The sparkling metallic sheen adorning the walls of the Hilton-Asmus Contemporary Gallery was a fitting motif for such a thought-provoking evening.

Guests were greeted with wine and an array of hors d'oeuvres as they made their way into the gallery, conversing
with other Manarchy fans and friends. They lingered not only for these very limited edition pieces, but also for the equally mystifying modern dancer, painted all in silver, as in the METAL series, who entertained the audience throughout the night. Many visitors have come back since for a more personal look at the artwork.  Since the opening on Friday, several of the images have found a new home.

There is an undeniable quality about Dennis Manarchy's work that has alluded to major museums such as the MOMA and the MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY.  Perhaps his apprenticeship with Irving Penn was a guiding factor in his early education.  However, Dennis Manarchy, one of the most successful photographers of our time, has truly come into his own as an artist.  His perfectionism is apparent.  As one viewer stated, "I also liked that there was no pretense about the work being anything other than what it was  – pretty direct – the photos exceeded any spin that could be put on them."

The METAL series won the GRAPHIS GOLD awards in 2009 and 2010.  Interestingly, the exhibition is Manarchy's first in the city of Chicago (and definitely not the last!) Indeed, making his mark in the hearts of Chicago's major collectors, the next stop will be Berlin in 2013. 

METAL  will be up until September 28th when we gear up for our next exhibition with the modern, avant garde, artist, Dalip Kryeziu, who will fly in from Frankfurt, Germany for his opening of "DIARIES & FACES" on October 5th.  

If you didn't have a chance to visit the show yet, we hope that you'll stop by to take a look or just to say hello. And of course, we would love it if you helped us to spread the word to your fellow art enthusiasts, collectors and friends.