Art Beat

By Amy T. Granite

5/3-6/14: “Paradiso Perduto” by Neko
Left Hand Black
1947 Fern St., South Park
619.546.6555, lhblk.com
Artist Neko Burke will emerge from the underground to present new paintings and drawings for a show about women from San Diego and skateboarding, among other topics. “Neko’s work is so unique and vivid,” says Crystal Turk, owner of Left Hand Black gallery, which will host Burke’s show. “You can expect to see humor and smut and lots of his unique characters.” Opening reception May 3, 6-11 p.m.

5/8-6/7: “Beyond Reality Lies Reason” by Linda Herzog
Distinction Gallery
317 E. Grand Ave., Escondido
760.707.2770, distinctionart.com
To call Linda Herzog’s latest body of work “detailed” would be an understatement. For her latest project, the surrealist painter has been working with a singlebristle paintbrush. Herzog says she’ll sometimes begin sketching immediately after waking, deriving inspiration from vivid dreams about wildlife that manifest in her work. Opening reception May 10, 6-10 p.m.

5/10-6/1: Luchuk
Visual
3776 30th St., North Park
619.501.5585, visualshopsd.com
El Luchuk (born Eder Carbellido Larrondo) is a San Diego-based illustrator from Tijuana who derives inspiration from music and film. For this solo show, he’ll display original illustrations, zines and prints at Visual in North Park. Opening reception May 10, 6-10 p.m.

5/10-6/8: “Nyctophillia: New Works” by Buffalo One
Thumbprint Galler
920 Kline St., La Jolla
858.354.6294, thumbprintgallerysd.com
The street art of Buffalo One (@buffalo_the_man on Instagram) caught the attention of Thumbprint Gallery owner Paul Ecdao. “When I went to see his installation at Balboa Park up close, many others stopped to admire, question and photograph his work,” Ecdao says. “At that point, it made a lot of sense to ask him to do a solo show with us and allow him to transform the gallery space into his world for a month.” Opening reception May 10, 5-10 p.m.

5/17-9/28: “After Ansel Adams “
Museum of Photographic Arts
1649 El Prado, Balboa Park
619.238.7559, mopa.org
The Museum of Photographic Arts will showcase the works of nine contemporary landscape photographers alongside works by American master Ansel Adams, whose iconic black and white photography of National Parks profoundly impacted the genre.

5/23-6/28: “Snake in the Grass” by Sarah Joncas
Subtext Gallery
2479 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy
subtextgallery.com
For her solo show at Subtext, Canada-based painter Sarah Joncas says she wants her work to invoke a sense of mystery among viewers. Her character-driven narratives are often dark, this time focusing on shaky relationships and betrayal. Her paintings bring together modern symbolism (like the iPhone in “Snake in the Grass”) and a noir, 1940s vibe. Opening reception May 23, 6-10 p.m.

5/31-8/26: “Sorolla and America”
San Diego Museum of Art
1450 El Prado, Balboa Park
619.232.7931, sdmart.org
For SDMA’s summer show, it’s all about Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida’s late-19thcentury paintings, which permeated the U.S. and gave Americans an appreciation for Spanish Modern Art. “Featuring the artist’s prominent commissions, sun-filled landscapes and beach scenes, portraits and the first work in The San Diego Museum of Art’s permanent collection, this landmark exhibition is a must-see for San Diego,” says SDMA executive director Roxana Velásquez.