Kustom Lane Gallery ’s art has never been a conventional style of art. It combines the use of photography, tiki art, monster art, burlesque and film noir to create something that is unusual, to say the very least.
Kustom Lane Gallery ’s art has never been a conventional style of art. It combines the use of photography, tiki art, monster art, burlesque and film noir to create something that is unusual, to say the very least.
But when asked where the inspiration for this kind of gallery came from, Tony Peake is fairly blasé. “I was just sick of dodgy art shows,” he says. “I would go to a show that had gotten really tall reviews and just about throw up. It’s very hard to categorise Kustom Lane. You just have to see it to get it.”
With Tony’s latest independent show, Queens of Lowbrow wrapping up, it’s easy to see that the artist he works with have a similar opinion. With the two leading creators, Leighderhosen and Isobel Von Finkelstein (Leigh Carnachan and Renee Osborne respectively) contributing their own definitive pieces, the show has been one more success on a long international list.
Renee’s work shows remarkable talent. It uses both graphics and traditional art to create grotesque images that haunt the mind long after viewing them. Leigh’s work is not digital at all; she instead combines an intriguing mixture of traditional and tattoo art.
Both women Tony reports meeting by accident. In fact, he was at an airport one day when the wheel came off Renee’s luggage trolley. He gave her a hand, they struck up a conversation and the rest is art history.
Tony takes pride in the artists that “come to him.” He seldom seeks people out, preferring to let them approach him if they feel their styles suit. He does of course do a lot of his own work, but most of the shows that Kustom Lane run are made up of other artists’ work. As Isobel and Leighderhosen were to Queens of Lowbrow, so too are The 59 Club and The Crusaders Scooter club to Mods Vs. Rockers.
Mods Vs. Rockers is another completely different kind of show that Kustom Lane is involved in. Raising $3,500 for the Oz Kids charity and boasting about three hundred attendees, it was a collection of beautiful motorbikes on display that had been meticulously maintained.
This month, Kustom Lane also launched their 2011 calendar, The Devil Doll pin up, a burlesque goldmine of “cars, cuties and more.” Not only is the art uniquely beautiful, it is also undeniably sexy. The launch party took place at the Gallery in Hawthorn and turned out over a hundred guests.
When asked if the business is lucrative, Tony cheerfully says it isn’t. “You do it for the love of it,” he chuckles. “There are no admission fees for the shows, they are open to anyone who would enjoy them.”
The only income he makes from his shows is commission off the pieces that sell. Apart from that, he and the other artists all have other sources of employment to make ends meet. “We are a not for profit business,” he explains proudly. “It’s about the art.”
The range of work, though incorporating various styles, has one very important consistent theme: “It’s all lowbrow,” Tony says. “You can find traditional highbrow art anywhere. What we do is lowbrow, and it’s not everybody’s cup of tea.”
The “lowbrow” that Tony refers to is the almost caricature nature of the imagery. It is surrealism at its best, combining noir and modernism. Tony acknowledges that they have experienced many “walkouts” since Kustom Lane became functional in 2007. “There hasn’t been any abuse,” he muses, “but obviously this style is not for everybody. Some people walk in, take one look around and walk straight out again. It’s a very tongue-in-cheek approach to art. That’s just the way it is.”
Kustom Lane puts together roughly eight shows a year, with up to five hundred people attending at any given time. They are based locally in Hawthorn, but they also travel internationally, recently working in conjunction with the California Gasoline Gallery.
Kustom Lane’s last event for 2010 will be The Big One, a pre-Christmas sale of artwork. Over 250 original works will be available, including international pieces by Doug Dorr, Max Grundy, James Owens, Brad Parker, Sara Ray, Ian Guy, Jason Tingler and Joey Finz. Proud local talent will include Paul Hughes, Sir Lluis Fuzzhound, Malicious, Leighderhosen, Isobel Von Finkeltstein, Gazza, Graig Metros and many more. Sales of up to 50% will be offered at Kustom Lane Gallery, but unfortunately these prices are not offered through their online store. The Big One concludes with the Fourth Annual Hot Rod BBQ, at the gallery, and is completely free of charge.
The Big One , Kustom Lane’s Lowbrow Art Sale will feature art, books and more for sale from November 28 until December 19. More information can be found at kustomlane.com or follow them on Facebook for regular events updates.
