Vertical Gallery presents James Reka “Neudeco”. In his first Chicago solo show, the artist draws inspiration from the Chicago Roaring 1920's in a new collection of Art-Deco inspired paintings and mixed-media sculptures. The exhibition runs October 6 – 27, with an opening reception with the artist on Saturday, October 6th, 6:00-10:00pm.

James Reka is one of Australia’s most respected contemporary artists, having earned his place in the National Gallery of Australia’s permanent collection. Reka’s style is a paradox between sharp design and graffiti, held together with a fuse of passion and spray paint. With influences in pop culture, cartooning and illustration, his vision for work emerged from his early design practice, featuring striking lines, bold colors, and surrealist, abstract creatures.

Reka’s roots lie in the alleyways and train lines of Melbourne’s inner-suburbs, where he spent over a decade refining and pioneering a new style of street art. He has exhibited worldwide, including solo shows in London, San Francisco, Denmark and Melbourne; he has exhibited at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) in Bristol; as well as special exhibitions in New York, Munich, Denver and Cologne. He earned his BA in Visual Communication & Design from RMIT University in Melbourne in 2006.