Sprovieri is pleased to present “Reputation”, Eric Wesley’s first solo exhibition at the gallery, in collaboration with Galleria Fonti, Naples.
There are a number of Eric Wesleys represented or rather “present” at the current show of Sprovieri. The project was born through the simple and ubiquitous act of one looking up their name on-line. The suite of pictures of Eric Wesley were sourced from the internet in Los Angeles, sent, via e mail to China where they were painted in oils and shipped to Italy to be refined and presented at Galleria Fonti, Naples, before travelling to Sprovieri, London. The title of the show “Reputation” takes its name from on line services such as ReputationManagement.com which repair and regulate ones on-line existence. Both process and product illustrate the vastness of deoxyribonucleic acid and its manifestation in our world, biological and virtual.

«In the 1960s and '70s people would actually say things like “we all are one” with earnest. “Reputation” asks this same question in 2018 with not only the liberal mindset of a philosophical enquiry but also with a more scientific ambition. DNA of all people is, from afar, very similar and diametrically opposed once you get close enough. This coding of reality leaves traces within the artwork of the show, “Reputation”. As far as Art is concerned “Reputation” asks the question which is more valuable? an original painting, by, say Edouard Manet or the mug with a printed image of the oil painting available at the gift shop. The “ pricelessness” of fine art swings the other way when one considers an object at face value... you can take a mug home with you, use it to drink from at the same time consume the art».

About the artist:
Eric Wesley, Los Angeles, CA, 1973. Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018: Eric Wesley: BUG (A Proposal 2018), Redling Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA; 2016: Midway Contemporary Arts, Minneapolis, MN; 2015: Some Work, 356 Mission, Los Angeles; 2013: Fondazione Morra Greco, Naples, Italy; 2012: The Natural Order of Things, Galleria Fonti, Napoli; 2010: D'Carts Blanche and New Paintings, Bortolami, New York; 2009: New Realistic Figures, Maureen Paley, London; 2008: Ship Shape Shit Shelf and The Empfang Box, FEURIG59, Berlin; 2007: Spafice, Bortolami, New York; Foundazione Morra Greco, Naples; 2006: You say Tomato, I say Tomato, Galleria Fonti, Naples; MOCA FOCUS, Museum of Contemporary Art, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles; 2003: Jeans Theory, Statements, Art Basel, Basel

Selected Group Exhibitions
2018: Naotaka Hiro, Pooneh Maghazehe, Robin Peck, Eric Wesley, Step Sister, New York; 2017: 99 Cents or Less, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit; 2014: A Public Fiction, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA; 2011: Highlights from the Maurice van Valen gift, The Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Greater LA, YRB Warehouse, New York, NY; BigMinis: Fetishes of Crisis, musée d’art contemporain, Bordeaux, France; 2010: The Artist's Museum, MOCA Geffen Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA; Larger Than Life - Stranger Than Fiction,11 Triennale Kleinplastik, Fellbach, Fellbach; 2009: Second Nature: Dean Valentine Collection, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; Les enfants terribles, Fundacion Coleccion Jumex, Mexico; Video Journeys, Cottage Home, Los Angeles; 2008: Los Angeles Confidential, Le Parc Saint Léger - Centre d’Art Contemporain de Pougues-les-Eaux, France; 2007: Prague Biennial, Prague; 2006: Axis of Praxis, Midway Contemporary Art, Minneapolis, USA; Alien Nation, Institute of Contemporary Art, London; The Gold Standard, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, USA; 2005: A Walk to Remember, organised by Jens Hoffmann, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles; 2001: Freestyle, Studio Museum, Harlem, New York; Snapshot: New Art From Los Angeles, UCLA Hammer Museum, Los Angeles