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New York, NY

Art & Illustrations by Lucas Stoffel

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When navigating through Gay New York's universe of up-and-coming talent it takes more than a blip to make it on our radar. It takes a bang, a big one.

Britney Houston

Lucas Stoffel

Ezra Rubin

Victor Glemaud

Jonathan Vargas

Peter Schwartz

Lucas Stoffel: Pop Artist

"I see the world through art," declares Lucas Stoffel, a 29-year-old Iowa native trained in Paris. "I'm viewing it from a 21st-century viewpoint." Evidently, this modern, polymodal perspective is appreciated. After winning the 2006 Starving Artist Awards and impressing at the amFAR Rocks AIDS benefit as the featured artist that same year, Stoffel continued his artistic journey in 2007. He received a commission from Dylan's Candy Bar titled "Sweetness" and held a color show at New World Stages Gallery. Not to mention, he embarked on a six-week trip to Asia to research his latest series, "Made in Taiwan," an exploration of tribal aesthetics and appropriation currently exhibited at the Lower East Side's Gallery Bar.

Using raw digital photos as his foundation, Stoffel transforms each image into complex yet reductive canvases of vivid color, employing diverse elements like newspaper, projections, and acrylic paint. The result is undeniably pop.

Reflecting on his journey from cornfields to collectors, Stoffel credits changes in the art scene as his driving force and challenge. "Kids in my generation, we're not spending our days on 10th and 11th Ave in the galleries; we are hanging out in the East Village. I'm trying to bring my art to an urban environment and reach a broader audience of people our age. I'm trying to change it; art has to evolve." And, as with every creative endeavor in New York, the forces pushing that evolution are a mix of talent and hustle.

"I never thought being a painter was such hard work!" Stoffel laughs. In the last two years, he's been a "one-man show," juggling advertising, marketing, PR, and temp jobs, not to mention actual production time. But he's optimistic about where that hard work is leading. "I think 2008 is the year of explosion," he enthuses about his prospects. "People in our age group are starting to see the work en masse. I've made so much headway this year that it's not stopping." With any luck, Stoffel's dynamic, innovative pieces will introduce a whole new generation of art lovers to what's next.

Written by Justin Lockwood - Next Magazine

Sweetness at Dylan's Candy Bar

New York, NY

Prepare your taste buds for a visual treat! On August 1, 2007, Lucas Stoffel, the celebrated Starving Artist Award winner, will unveil his latest masterpiece - a captivating series of Pop Art Candy paintings titled "Sweetness." This delectable exhibition will take place at the renowned Upper East Side candy haven, "Dylan's Candy Bar" (1011 Third Ave.), and art enthusiasts are invited to immerse themselves in the world of sweet nostalgia until August 31, 2007.

Sweetness at Dylan's Candy Bar by Lucas Stoffel

"Sweetness" is far more than an art exhibition; it's a whimsical commentary on love as seen through the lens of candy. Stoffel, known for his unique fusion of pop culture and art, has masterfully crafted this series using nostalgic candies that tug at heartstrings. From conversation hearts that convey raw emotion to wax bottles and old-fashioned candy sticks that evoke light-hearted joy, each piece in "Sweetness" tells a story of affection and delight.

Stoffel, who recently wowed the art world with his "iCon" exhibit in Chelsea, was thrilled when approached by Dylan's Candy Bar for this joint venture. He remarked, "I couldn't think of anything more exciting to create! The color, the texture, the fun that candy presented so intrigued me that when Dylan proposed the project, I jumped at the chance."

Sweetness at Dylan's Candy Bar by Lucas Stoffel

The official unveiling of "Sweetness" will take place on August 1, 2007, from 6 to 9 PM at Dylan's Candy Bar, and the public is warmly invited to attend. This enchanting event will also feature an opening reception sponsored by P.I.N.K. Vodka, adding an extra layer of sweetness to an already delightful evening.

Don't miss the opportunity to experience "Sweetness" - a convergence of art, nostalgia, and the simple joys of life - at Dylan's Candy Bar throughout the month of August. Lucas Stoffel's candy-inspired masterpieces promise to leave a lasting impression and perhaps even satisfy your sweet tooth for art.

Sweetness at Dylan's Candy Bar by Lucas Stoffel

Made in Taiwan at Gallery Bar

New York, NY

On the night of my arrival in Taiwan, I was jolted from my bed by an earthquake. This was just the first of many surprises awaiting me in this enigmatic land, engaged in an internal struggle as it grapples with the concept of westernization.

Made in Taiwan at Gallery Bar by Lucas Stoffel

The Taiwanese countryside, scattered with imposing industrial structures, communist-style apartment complexes, and towering gray grain elevators, starkly contrasts with the cityscape. Taiwanese cities are dotted with ubiquitous Starbucks and McDonald's outlets, resulting in littered streets due to the absence of public garbage cans, sidewalks, and proper sanitation systems. All of this creates a striking juxtaposition with the vibrant beauty and colorful life found in the temples.

Taiwan is deeply spiritual and profoundly superstitious. Here, belief systems intertwine with folklore, ghosts, and ancestry. This becomes apparent when walking through the streets, where the scent of burning paper wafts through the air as locals offer paper money at temples to honor their ancestors.

Made in Taiwan at Gallery Bar New York by Lucas Stoffel

My project delves into Taiwan's rich heritage, including its religious symbols like Taoist temples adorned with intricate dragons, colossal Tao statues, and omnipresent Buddhas. It also explores the fading art of opera performed in hidden alleyways, the remnants of a once-mighty military state, and the aspirations for a brighter future for the younger generation, symbolized by English cram school signs. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of an ever-present street sign, a symbol of tradition in the midst of the country's transition towards a more Western way of life.

Lucas Stoffel, a multimedia pop artist, was the recipient of New York's Starving Artist Award last year and has achieved best-selling status at the Starving Artist Ball twice. He has been commissioned by private collectors worldwide. In 2007, Stoffel was honored as the selected artist for the amfAR Rocks benefit for AIDS research and was featured in AM New York's Premiere Art Rocks Event. He also completed a commissioned series, "Sweetness," for the renowned Dylan's Candy Bar on the Upper East Side. Stoffel wrapped up the summer of 2007 by displaying his award-winning project, "iCon," at the Prince George Gallery on 27th Street before embarking on his current project in Taiwan.

Opening Night Party at Gallery Bar by Lucas Stoffel

Furthermore, Stoffel's "911 Emergency" panels (derived from his award-winning "iCon" project) are currently being considered for display at the World Trade Center Memorial Museum. Stoffel is also looking forward to 2008 as he plans an in-depth exploration of Japanese culture with his upcoming project, "Japan-a-nation," scheduled to begin in June.

By challenging the traditional aesthetics and norms of fine art in the digital age, Stoffel merges dehumanized technological and modern graphic elements with various warm mediums. Starting as photographs, each piece undergoes a transformation into a dimensional work that invites tactile exploration and arouses curiosity.

After earning a degree in design and theatrical arts from Iowa State University, Stoffel studied in Paris, where his appreciation for pop culture grew, and he began incorporating projections, carbon paper, and newspaper into his designs. As a passionate traveler, Stoffel recently spent a year on the island of Oahu, contributing as a photographer to Hawaiian Airlines Magazine. He currently calls New York his home.

Made in Taiwan at Gallery Bar by Lucas Stoffel