UTA Artist Space is pleased to present two concurrent solo exhibitions by artists Conrad Egyir (pictured) and Maya Seas, on view from October 15 through November 13. (Beverly Hills, CA — October 7, 2021) — UTA Artist Space is pleased to present two concurrent solo exhibitions by artists Conrad Egyir and Maya Seas, on view from October 15 through November 13. In the main gallery space, Conrad Egyir presents Inauguration, an exhibition of all new paintings and drawings, including four monumental paintings that stand seven feet tall. The works build upon the Ghanaian artist’s transnational practice, which deftly blends West African and American sensibilities, iconographies, and styles. Elaborating upon the school motifs found in his past work, Egyir returns to the idea of education as a site of growth, individuality, and success, especially for immigrants. In FellowShip, Egyir repurposes the iconic father and daughter of Grant Wood’s American Gothic into stylized exaltations of the people in his life—the man is modeled after his former studio assistant—amid Fanti fertility dolls, thriving plants, and classroom objects like pencils and paper ships. Inauguration follows Egyir’s virtual show with UTA Artist Space last year, Class of 2020, which was originally meant for physical exhibition. The artist says, “The past year saw me and a lot of my friends and colleagues having to cope with the cancellations, postponements, and uncertainties the pandemic placed upon us. This is a way for me to take back control of the narrative on my own artistic terms.” “I am thrilled to give these two young artists physical space to exhibit their talents, especially after a year in which many up-and-coming talents felt adrift in isolation,” says Arthur Lewis, UTA Fine Arts and UTA Artist Space Creative Director. ABOUT THE ARTIST Conrad Egyir (b. 1989) is a Detroit-based artist born in Accra, Ghana. He received his MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2018 and completed the Ox-Bow School of Arts and Artist Residency in Saugatuck, MI in the same year. His work is in the permanent collections of: Cranbrook Art Museum (Bloomfield Hills, MI); Pérez Art Museum Miami; Rennie Collection, Vancouver; Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Michigan; Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena; and the JPMorgan Chase Art Collection. He is represented by Jessica Silverman, San Francisco. @conrad_egyir --------------- In Gallery 3, Maya Seas presents Between Us, an exhibition of new paintings that invoke intimacy and ritual as a means of protection and inner fortitude. Seas says, “In these times of constant global turmoil and grief, I have been focusing my efforts on creating something healing. I am searching my subconscious for moments that carry feelings of safety and peace. My art is a practice of building sanctuaries out of these moments and offering them outwards as prayer.” Seas’ paintings draw inspiration from her personal experiences and memories: women adorning each other with henna, close figures sharing secrets and inside jokes. Through the closeness and bonds between the figures depicted, the artist examines moments within her own search for a sense of belonging. The scenes also reflect the artist’s experiences with energy healing, mysticism and metaphysics. “I am thrilled to give these two young artists physical space to exhibit their talents, especially after a year in which many up-and-coming talents felt adrift in isolation,” says Arthur Lewis, UTA Fine Arts and UTA Artist Space Creative Director. ABOUT THE ARTIST Maya Seas (b. 1991) lives and works in Los Angeles. She has a Bachelors of Arts and Humanities from Hampshire College. Her visual practice unveils a personal mythology that traces the sacred and the intimate. Her paintings contain secrets, rituals, prayers, and recipes that evoke the ancient in the everyday, bringing more tenderness to the visual climate. @maya.seas --------------- ABOUT UTA ARTIST SPACE UTA Artist Space is an exhibition venue designed by Ai Weiwei in the heart of Beverly Hills that is committed to showcasing art by globally recognized talent. Since its establishment in 2016, UTA Artist Space has presented notable exhibitions with interdisciplinary artists and creatives, including Derrick Adams, Myrtis Bedolla of Galerie Myrtis, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Essence Harden, Larry Clark, Petra Cortright, Conrad Egyir, Amanda Hunt, Mariane Ibrahim, Arcmanoro Niles, The Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery, The Haas Brothers, and Ai Weiwei, among others. UTAArtistSpace.com. COVID-19 SAFETY All visitors will have to acknowledge both the health and safety guidelines and their health status before they visit. All visitors must wear a mask at all times. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available on site for guest usage. Guests must practice social distancing. There is ample signage throughout the space including arrows on the floor that tell guests which way foot traffic is flowing. Restrooms will be closed to guests and the Artist Space will be deep cleaned on a regular schedule following the close of business each day.