Expo Chicago
EXPO Chicago
Chicago, IL
Booth 244
April 11 - 14, 2024
The Pit is pleased to present a group booth of new works by six artists either represented by or with upcoming projects with the gallery. The booth will include paintings by Howard Fonda, Kelly Lynn Jones, Allison Schulnik, and Devin Troy Strother alongside ceramic works by Joel Gaitan and Maryam Yousif. Harking from different locations across the US and from disparate backgrounds, each artist approaches their work from a place of introspection and cultural dialogue. Howard Fonda's still life paintings are inspired by historical objects usually found through online research of estate sales. Allison Schulnik paints the wonders of the desert landscape surrounding her home. Kelly Lynn Jones's paintings draw from memories from the perspective of a mother with swirling patterns and vibrant colors nodding to American quilt making traditions. Joel Gaitan's terracotta ceramic figures, inspired by ceramic vessels from his native Nicaragua, are adorned with contemporary symbols of life in Miami. Devin Troy Strother looks to famous painters and reimagines the compositions with black figures, a way to insert himself and other black painters into an art history traditionally lacking in diversity. Lastly Maryam Yousif's votive female figures merge traditional Assyrian symbols with contemporary fashions. Each artist speaks to the past and the present navigating their own place within today's world.
Founded by artists Adam D. Miller and Devon Oder in 2014, The Pit is a contemporary art gallery representing and exhibiting emerging, mid-career and established artists spanning generations. The gallery began as an artist-run, artist curated project space operating out of a studio warehouse which was formerly a mechanics garage in Glendale, CA. In 2021 The Pit opened a secondary gallery location in Palm Springs, CA.
After ten years operating in the original space, The Pit moved to its current location in the Atwater Village neighborhood of Los Angeles. Designed by J&K. Co in collaboration with Miller and Oder, the Atwater Village complex is 13,000 square feet including three exhibition spaces and a shop. The larger footprint of the building over the three galleries allows for a more expansive vision of what a gallery can provide for an artist and a viewer, along with varying programming opportunities. The gallery’s program creates historical conversations and connections between emerging, mid career and established artists with canonized alternative art histories such as self-taught artists, psychedelia, the graphic arts, underground comics, and the intersections of craft and fine art.
VIP Preview:
Thursday, April 11 | 12:00noon – 9:00pm
(Invitation Only)
Opening Night:
Thursday, April 11 | 6:00–9:00pm
(Limited Availability Ticket)
Open to the Public:
Friday, April 12 | 11:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday, April 13 | 11:00am – 7:00pm
Sunday, April 14 | 11:00am – 6:00pm
For more information email us at info@the-pit.la
Howard Fonda, Untitled, (Magnolia Warbler, wild Sweet William, Qing Dynasty rosewater sprinkler, first edition Doors of Perception, hex sign, Stickley table, Thomas Stan’s Domino wallpaper), 2023, Oil on canvas, 34 x 30 in.86.36 x 76.2 cm
Howard Fonda, Untitled (Reed Warbler, Diné Runner, Stickley Table, Waterhouse Wall Hanging, Antique Cage, Set Beauty Free), 2022, Oil on canvas, 40 x 30 in., 101.6 x 76.2 cm
Howard Fonda, Untitled (endemic orange oriole, flamingo, Yucatán jay, Yucatán parrot), 2023, Oil on canvas, 48 x 36 in., 121.92 x 91.44 cm
Joel Gaitan, Amante y Jimaguas, 2023, Terracotta and gold luster glaze, 25¼ x 17 x 18 in., 64.14 x 43.18 x 45.72 cm.
Kelly Lynn Jones, Caught in an eye to eye , 2024, Acrylic, Oil and Oil Stick on Canvas, 52 x 38 in., 132.08 x 96.52 cm.
Kelly Lynn Jones, I wrote letters to you in my mind, 2024, Acrylic, Oil and Oil Stick on Canvas, 52 x 38 in., 132.08 x 96.52 cm.
Allison Schulnik, Night Fox #3, 2021, Oil on canvas stretched over panel, 30 x 24 in., 76.2 x 60.96 cm
Devin Troy Strother, Stable Table, 2023, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 78 x 87 in., 198.12 x 220.98 cm
Devin Troy Strother, what to say, 2024, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48 in., 91.44 x 121.92 cm.
Maryam Yousif, Habibti in Album Dress, 2023, Glazed stoneware, 35 x 28 x 10 in., 88.9 x 71.12 x 25.4 cm
Maryam Yousif, Habibti in Missoni Dress, 2024, Glazed ceramic, 17¼ x 12 x 4½ in., 43.81 x 30.48 x 11.43 cm.
Joel Gaitan, La Luna En Tu Mirada, 2024, Terracotta, gold luster, glaze, 18 x 19½ x 12½ in., 45.72 x 49.53 x 31.75 cm.
Joel Gaitan, Little Havana Bby, 2022, Terracotta and gold luster glaze, 19 x 14¼ x 12 in., 48.26 x 36.2 x 30.48 cm.
Kelly Lynn Jones, We will ride them someday, 2024, Acrylic, Oil and Oil Stick on Canvas, 52 x 38 in., 132.08 x 96.52 cm.
Kelly Lynn Jones, All the animals are embraced, 2024, Acrylic, Oil and Oil Stick on Canvas, 52 x 38 in., 132.08 x 96.52 cm.
Kelly Lynn Jones, Swan Song , 2024, Acrylic, Oil and Oil Stick on Canvas, 52 x 38 in., 132.08 x 96.52 cm.
Allison Schulnik, Marina purple puffs, 2023, Oil on canvas stretched over board, 28 x 20 in.
Devin Troy Strother, fine skyline, 2024, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 58 x 54 in., 147.32 x 137.16 cm.
Maryam Yousif, Habibti in Ice Pink Dress, 2023, Glazed stoneware, 13½ x 8 x 3 in., 34.29 x 20.32 x 7.62 cm
Maryam Yousif, Two Rivers, 2024, Glazed ceramic, 19½ x 13 x 5 in., 49.53 x 33.02 x 12.7 cm.
Maryam Yousif, Swan , 2024, Glazed ceramic, 13½ x 16½ x 3 in., 34.29 x 41.91 x 7.62 cm.