TAG (The Artists Gallery) presents the opening reception Collected Stories - five dynamic solo shows, featuring original work by both California-local and internationally based visual artists. EXHIBITION DATES: October 9 - November 1, 2024 OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, October 10 from 6-9pm ARTISTS TALK: Saturday, October 26 from 4-5pm CLOSING RECEPTION: Saturday, October 26 from 6-9pm ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Lynette K. Henderson is a visual artist in drawing, painting and mixed media, with a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1986), MFA from the University of Minnesota (1989), and a Ph.D. in Art Education from Arizona State University (2006). Henderson currently works and resides in southern California, U.S.A. Her upcoming solo exhibition, “Animal Reserve”, features new work focusing on examination of animals, loss and resilience of wildlife impacted by human environments. FOCUSING ON EXAMINATION OF ANIMALS, LOSS AND RESILIENCE OF WILDLIFE IMPACTED BY HUMAN ENVIRONMENTS. www.lynettekhendersonart.com https://www.instagram.com/lynettekhenderson/ Gina’s Leon-Gutiérrez was born in South Africa, raised in Canada, and currently resides in Los Angeles, California, where she works as a visual artist, actress, and arts educator. She studied theatre and art history at the University of Toronto, visual art at the College of Fine Arts in Sydney, Australia, and acting at the New School for Drama in NYC. As an artist assistant, digital mural artist, and researcher at the Social and Public Art Resource Center, she trained and collaborated on social justice monuments under the direction of muralist and National Medal of the Arts recipient - Judith F. Baca. Her upcoming solo exhibition, “Connecting the Dots” features new work from a series of 100 interconnected pieces – a contemplation on both connection and memory. www.ginaleon.weebly.com https://www.instagram.com/ginaleon44 Mel Smothers is an American contemporary artist. His artistic practice evolved in Pop Art America during the 60s and 70s, working alongside his contemporary Andy Warhol and Wayne Thiebaud. Thiebaud would later become Smothers’ university professor and a forefront figure of the American Pop Art movement. Mel was honored with selection by Cooper-Union (NYC) to exhibit in the “Emerging Artists of the Year Exhibition (2006). He received the craft Nouveau Award at Blueline Arts in California for his sculpture (2022). He has exhibited in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Brussels, Monaco, Singapore and Berlin. Dorothea Lange photographed the homeless migrants in 1930’s. “After Dorothea Lange”, Smothers’ upcoming solo show is a revising of her work with paint. https://melsmothers.com/ https://www.instagram.com/andydialogs/ Barbara Tevarotto: Born in Italy and trained as a lawyer, Barbara left her home country in 1995 and lived in the Netherlands and the United States for several years before settling with her family in Vancouver in 2002. She switched from law to the graphic arts in 2000, while living in California. Inspired by her personal journey and growth, her artwork explores very intimate themes, trying to answer fundamental questions at a very instinctual and emotional level. She uses different media, but her art is characterized by a strong graphic component, combined with a bold and vibrant figurative style. Her upcoming solo show “Faces of Desire”, draws inspiration from Wim Wenders film “Wings of Desire” (1987). “In this film invisible, immortal angels look down from the sky of Berlin and listen to the thoughts of its human inhabitants, comforting the distressed. While taking photos of people, I often fantasize about their thoughts or feelings.” - Barbara Tevarotto http://barbarat-art.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/barbarat69art/ Gianna Vargas is an artist living in Venice, California. Born in England to a Mexican father, Gianna's multicultural heritage informs her creative perspective. She has lived and studied in the United States and Australia and relocated to California to pursue her passion for art and science at Scripps College and Claremont Graduate University. Drawing inspiration from her studies of the natural world, Gianna’s artwork explores the intricate connections between science and creativity. Currently, she divides her time between teaching at Brentwood School and painting at her studio in the Beacon Arts Building. Gianna joined TAG Gallery as a 2020 Member Artist and is exhibiting her solo show in “Collected Stories”. https://www.giannavargas.com/ https://www.instagram.com/giannavargas/ ABOUT TAG (The Artists Gallery) Founded in 1993, TAG Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery (artist founded and operated not-for-profit arts cooperative) located on Museum Row in the Miracle Mile Wilshire Blvd district of Los Angeles, California. The Gallery represents award-winning contemporary Southern California artists and international artists working in all mediums and styles, and features new artists, exhibitions and events every month and season of the year