BEYOND THE STREETS brings contemporary art on paper to Southampton

Opened on July 17, in Southampton, BEYOND THE STREETS on PAPER, is a new exhibition featuring over 500 works from more than 100 artists. The exhibition brings together an alternative perspective on the shifting dialogues in contemporary art. Hosting the show is the Southampton Arts Center, a non-profit in an historic 150 year-old building with over 6,000 square feet of exhibition space and over three acres of grounds.

BEYOND THE STREETS on PAPER is both a historical homage to the earliest mark makers and rule breakers and a celebration of an essential practice seen throughout contemporary art. The show explores experimental processes to imaginative works seen on paper from artists who trained in, and were inspired by, graffiti, street art, hip-hop, punk rock, zines and underground art. The exhibition explores that, with a democratization of materials and surface, the intricateness of the ever-growing movement is both unique and revolutionary.

One of the defining traits of the underground art movements presented in this showcase are their historical roots in creating a space of inclusion and acceptance. As the contemporary art world excelled in a sort of gatekeeper curation, the art coming from these outsider cultures was immersed in shattering the status quo’s definition of what art was and will be. BEYOND THE STREETS on PAPER champions the legacy of that historical challenge to authority, presenting a contemporary dialogue of individual expression through a powerful and self-governing community. That the works are on paper, a medium of intimacy, immediacy and the seeds of this culture’s growth into an international phenomenon, makes for a fresh approach to understanding the immense changes we have seen in contemporary art and society over the last 50 years.

In the past, in two massive shows in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, BEYOND THE STREETS has helped create an entirely new historical lexicon for which to look at contemporary art. In our conversations with artists and friends over the last 16 months, a sentiment we continued to hear was both the desire to, and obligation, to create more intimate and immediate artwork. The idea of going back to the drawing board spawned this exhibition dedicated to paper. From emerging artists to some of the most influential names in art, this is about studying a centuries old practice and allowing the generations to speak to each other on equal ground.

BEYOND THE STREETS on PAPER will feature over 100 artists from around the world, some of which have never shown works on paper. With the support of partnerships, including VistaPrint, admission to the exhibition will be free.

Gallery hours: Thursday – Monday, 12pm – 5pm each day

This will be the first exhibition in an ongoing collaboration between BEYOND THE STREETS and Southampton Arts Center in the coming years.